King Charles arrives in Bermuda for solo visit as Queen Camilla returns to the UK

Svar Nanan-Sen
Fri, 01 May 2026 07:51:32 +0000

King Charles has touched down in Bermuda for a solo royal tour, arriving just hours after concluding what has been described as a memorable state visit to the United States.

President Donald Trump personally saw off the King and Queen Camilla from Washington on Thursday, having announced the removal of tariffs on Scottish whisky — a decision he attributed directly to the royal couple's intervention.

Mark Kent, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, said "distillers can breathe a little easier" following the announcement.

The significant trade breakthrough is expected to vindicate Downing Street's decision to dispatch the monarch on what some considered a risky diplomatic mission to restore the UK-US special relationship.

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Before departing, the King and Queen expressed their gratitude to America via a message on X, writing: "We leave a piece of our heart behind and take a little of yours back home with us. Until the next time God Bless America."

The monarch's aircraft, the UK Government's VIP Airbus, arrived at LF Wade International Airport as dusk fell on Thursday, displaying both the Royal Standard and Bermuda's flag from the cockpit.

Governor Andrew Murdoch and Premier David Burt, accompanied by his wife Kristin, welcomed Charles on the tarmac, where members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment formed a guard of honour.

The arrival ceremony remained deliberately understated, with full pomp and pageantry including a 21-gun salute reserved for Friday's formal welcome.

As the King remarked to travelling journalists "you made it" before entering his vehicle, attention now turns to today's packed schedule.

King Charles will travel to Trunk Island to see the "Living Classroom," an educational programme designed to teach young people about local ecosystems and foster environmental responsibility.

The capital Hamilton will host a reception at City Hall, where the Premier and Mayor will introduce local councillors to the monarch.

A particularly distinctive engagement will see King Charles meet Michael Frith, the Bermuda-born designer responsible for creating numerous Muppets characters, along with his wife Kathryn Mullen, who will demonstrate their celebrated puppetry and discuss its Bermudian influences.

The King's cultural programme continues at the Royal Naval Dockyard, where he will visit the Keep Yard and watch the National Gombey Dance Troupe perform alongside members of the public.

This traditional Bermudian dance form represents one of the island's most distinctive cultural expressions.

The day's engagements will conclude with a garden party hosted at Government House, bringing together guests representing a broad spectrum of Bermudian society.