'Where's the umbrella?': Moment King Charles gets soaked as torrential rain hits Antigua - amid row over slavery reparations.
A royal aide was blamed for an umbrella blunder during a Caribbean downpour which left King Charles drenched - on a visit overshadowed by demands for slavery reparations and calls to strip him of his role as head of state.
The monarch was seen waving frantically and telling staff to 'bring it' after being left soaked to the bone in Antigua.
As Queen Camilla beat a hasty retreat, Charles turned and gestured in exasperation towards staff as he paced on and off the podium, appearing to mouth: 'Where's the umbrella?'
At one point, he even mimed holding one.
Charles was attending celebrations marking Antigua and Barbuda's 45th anniversary of independence, just days after the country's prime minister renewed demands for Britain to pay reparations for slavery and reiterated his desire to see the King replaced as head of state.
Back in Britain, ministers are facing mounting pressure over reparations after Andy Burnham opened the door to an official apology for Britain's role in slavery.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, meanwhile, has insisted Britain has 'had enough of apologising' for its past and has rejected calls for reparations.
'Umbrella-gate' and the King's soaking was a rare misstep by Buckingham Palace's usually seamless operation, particularly given the optics of the day.
Aides would ordinarily have checked the forecast and ensured an umbrella was immediately to hand.
At one point, the King's police protection officer could be seen hurrying staff to bring one over.
His Majesty was eventually handed an umbrella by his equerry, Major Ben Rigby, who had been forced to run back into the stands to retrieve it from the rest of the entourage.
By then, however, the King was soaked, with his lightweight summer suit appearing see-through in places.
Burnham signalled a potential shift in the debate over the weekend, saying he wanted a 'structured dialogue' with those affected.
The Prime Minister has rejected calls for direct financial reparations, instead suggesting debt relief and restructuring. There are also signs the Government may support health and education projects in Commonwealth countries, although officials stressed any funding would come from existing aid budgets.
The King was soaked against the backdrop of an increasingly heated political debate across the Caribbean over demands for slavery reparations from Britain.
Moments after arriving at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, he was left exposed when the heavens opened and no umbrella appeared.
Charles appeared to take the soaking in good humour, joking afterwards: 'I've started growing watercress on my trousers.'
Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, has repeatedly said he wants Charles removed as the country's head of state.
Speaking to ITV, he said: 'I can say to you, I am a Republican. So if you asked me about my personal view, I would like to see Antigua and Barbuda become a republic…
'I understand the politics in the UK, in which it may be a difficult proposition for him to agree to any form of reparations, but that does not negate the need for reparations.'
Charles initially cut a frustrated figure as the heavens opened moments after his arrival, throwing his arms in the air and asking for an umbrella.
As rain continued to pour, Queen Camilla was swiftly handed a clear dome umbrella and ushered towards the royal seating area while her husband remained exposed to the tropical downpour.
She later appeared to see the funny side of the mishap. By the time an umbrella finally arrived for Charles, his beige summer suit was soaked and rain was streaming down his face.
The smiles soon returned when the King spent time with Sir Vivian Richards and other West Indian cricketing legends.
After one was found and finally handed to him, the celebrations were allowed to continue.
He stoically continued with the lengthy engagement in the open air, however, occasionally wiping his face with his handkerchief.
Charles stood on a small dais as dozens of troops stood to attention on the former cricket pitch, now a parade ground.
His Majesty then sheltered under the umbrella to inspect the service personnel.
When the King returned, he was cheered by the crowds and acknowledged their warmth with a wave.
The downpour ended as quickly as it began, lasting around five minutes and allowing the programme of celebrations to continue in the dry.
The parade is the centrepiece of Antigua and Barbuda's independence celebrations each year.
Later the Governor-General, Sir Rodney Williams, presented to Their Majesties the National Honourees – individuals recognised for giving distinguished service to the country and its people across public life, culture, sport, education and community service.
The King and Queen then viewed the parade's closing ceremonial sequence, before greeting students and four West Indies Cricketing Knights: Sir Viv; Sir Richie Richardson; Sir Andy Roberts; and Sir Curtly Ambrose.
Cricketing legend Sir Viv – who on Sunday night was announced as a Sustainable Markets Initiative Ambassador, a movement founded by the King to make industry and business more environmentally friendly, said of the Commonwealth meeting and royal visit: 'It's just an exciting time for us as people.
'It couldn't be any better having the King and the Queen here. It means a lot to us. It's a win-win situation.
'I met him [the King] before at Buckingham Palace and meeting him on my home patch, that I think evens things out.
'So it's just great to know that you are with such folks who would have played such a huge part, a part in the world and what they stand for, and having them on our shores. The weather's good. Couldn't be, couldn't get any better than this.'
Sir Viv spoke of his 'immense privilege' to represent the King in Antigua and across the Commonwealth.
The West Indies World Cup winner was invited to meet the King and Queen at the National Stadium that bears his name, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week.
Regarded as the most talented batsman of his era, winning the 1975 and 1979 World Cups and captaining the side from the mid-1980s until 1991, Sir Vivian appeared alongside fellow West Indies legends, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Andy Roberts and Sir Richie Richardson, for a private meeting with Charles and Camilla, followed with an Independence Ceremonial Parade at the stadium.
Greeting Sir Vivian like an old friend, Charles said it was 'so good to see you again'.
The King was then invited to toss a commemorative coin to decide which side took to the field first, in a cricket match between a selection of Heads of Government played against a team of Caribbean leaders.
The CHOGM match was followed by a game between Commonwealth Future Stars Under-23, showcasing emerging Commonwealth cricketers.
The theme for this CHOGM, held every two years, is Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth, but talks were expected to be dominated by discussions of Andy Burnham's offer to Commonwealth nations to discuss a slavery apology from Britain.
The Prime Minister expressed 'my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions' but ruled out financial reparations.
It came after Antigua's Prime Minister said he personally wanted to see Charles removed as his country's monarch and insisted reparations should be paid by the UK over slavery.
Mr Browne was speaking to ITV News after he attended a Sunday morning church service alongside the sovereign and the Queen.
The politician said he had great respect for the British Monarch, but repeated his view that Antigua should replace him as head of state.
'I can say to you, I am a Republican. So if you asked me about my personal view, I would like to see Antigua and Barbuda become a republic… but I have to recognise and accept the fact that there are certain constitutional provisions to become a republic, and that, ultimately, it is the decision of the people to determine whether or not we become a republic,' he said.
Mr Burnham announced on Friday that his government was prepared to talk about an apology – which no British prime minister has done before – but said the British public should not pay compensation for what happened in the past.
Mr Browne insisted that Caribbean nations were 'not coming to Britain and making demands that you cannot afford' but he argued the compensation money should be found in Britain's budget for overseas development.
And he warned about the consequences for the world if Britain did not pay money for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
'If there is no compensation, there's likely to be a repeat of those atrocities sometime in the future. And you can see what is happening globally already,' he said.
The constitution requires more than two-thirds of Antiguans to vote to replace the British Monarch and change the constitution.
'So until such time as the question is put to them, I have to accept that, you know, King Charles remains. I serve the King, and he will continue to benefit from, you know, all of the courtesies and respect as our King… but again, you know, from time to time we have to test the waters.'
He also said that 'if there is not some form of deterrent, there could be a repeat'.
When asked if he was referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he just answered, 'you can see what is happening globally'.
The Antiguan politician told ITV News: 'I'm saying here that countries are becoming far more brutal. And if there's not some form of compensation and even liability for future generations, the present generation must understand that the actions could also affect future generations.'
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