What Happened When Rain Soaked King Charles at Antigua's Independence Parade
USD 21,71
Popular
King Charles was drenched by a tropical rainstorm during an Independence Day parade in Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday, Nov. 1, while Queen Camilla was given an umbrella first, CBC and Hola reported. Video of the 77-year-old monarch gesturing for help became the most talked-about moment of the couple's Caribbean tour.
Charles was eventually handed an umbrella, went on with the ceremony and later joked about his soaked suit.
What happened at the parade?
The king and queen were at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Saint George for the parade marking the 45th anniversary of Antigua and Barbuda's independence, according to Hola. The downpour began shortly after they arrived.
CBC reported that Charles raised his hands in apparent despair and turned around to try to catch the attention of someone who could help. Hola said he stood on the ceremonial platform as his light-colored suit grew steadily wetter. According to Hola, he also mimed holding an umbrella over his head. Locals marching in the parade carried on despite the rain, CBC said.
How did Camilla end up with the umbrella?
Accounts differ slightly. CBC said the queen, 79, walked away with the only umbrella available. Hola said a protection officer gave her a transparent umbrella and that she was escorted toward a covered seating area while the king remained exposed.
Hola reported that Charles repeatedly asked where his umbrella was. His equerry, Major Ben Rigby, later arrived with a black one, according to the outlet. The king took it and went on to inspect the assembled troops.
Has the palace explained why there was no umbrella?
Hola reported that Buckingham Palace has not confirmed why an umbrella was not immediately available to the king. Neither outlet reported any official statement on the matter.
What did the king say afterward?
Charles appeared to move past the episode quickly. In a video posted on the Royal Family's Instagram account, he joked with Prime Minister Gaston Browne about the soaking, saying, “I think I'm about to grow watercress on my suit.” Reuters was cited by Hola as the source of the remark, and CBC also reported it.
Hola added that Camilla reportedly joked about how the humidity affected her hair.
Is this the first time the king's frustration has been caught on camera?
No, according to CBC. Not long after he became king in 2022, video went viral of him reacting irritably when a pen leaked ink onto his hand at an event in Northern Ireland. CBC noted that he later poked fun at himself over the incident, saying at a later event that he hoped his pen would work.
Why does it matter?
The rainstorm is a small moment, but it drew attention during a tour that CBC said has been dominated by debate over Britain's role in the slave trade. Since becoming king, Charles has expressed sorrow for the suffering caused by slavery, CBC reported, without offering the formal apology that Britain has long resisted.
For readers following the tour, the footage shows how a light-hearted incident can overshadow the visit's more serious themes in coverage. The episode itself had no reported consequences beyond a wet suit and a brief delay in getting the king an umbrella.
What comes next on the tour?
CBC reported that Charles is due to give a speech to Commonwealth leaders on Tuesday. Many are watching to see how he addresses the legacy of slavery.
