King and Queen bid farewell to Antigua and Barbuda after six-day visit

The King and Queen received a simple ceremonial send-off as their tour of Antigua and Barbuda came to an end.

The couple spent six days on an official visit to the Caribbean nation to attend the opening of a major Commonwealth summit and celebrate the nation and its people.

Waiting at VC Bird International Airport was Charles’ representative in the country Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams, who attended many of the royal engagements alongside the King and Queen.

The final royal event of their stay was a glittering dinner on Tuesday evening for world leaders hosted by the King that followed the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Charles also made solo trips to the Bahamas and a state visit to Guyana during his time in the region and much of his tour has been dominated by the issue of slavery reparations and an apology from Britain.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who attended the Commonwealth summit, has made an offer of talks to discuss a slavery apology to nations affected, but has ruled out financial reparations.

In a speech to launch the summit, Charles said the transatlantic slave trade “fills my heart with horror and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow”, but did not offer an apology.

The King, head of the Commonwealth, also praised the leading role” of the Royal Navy in helping to enforce the end of slavery once abolished.

The actions of Britain’s warships came after they had spent more than a century protecting vessels carrying enslaved people and defending the Caribbean’s profitable sugar producing colonies based on slave labour.

The Royal Police Force Band played the British and Antiguan national anthems before the couple boarded the ministerial jet Voyager and gave a salute.

Charles also inspected a guard of honour stood to attention in the hot and humid conditions before walking up the steps with his wife and waving goodbye.