The King has arrived in Guyana to begin a two-day state visit marking six decades of diplomatic ties with Britain, while celebrating the nation's environment, culture and people.
Following his arrival from the Bahamas on the first leg of his Caribbean tour, Charles was received by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The monarch's final destination will be Antigua and Barbuda, where he is due to open a major summit of Commonwealth leaders in his role as head of the "family of nations".
The visit comes amid renewed calls from Caribbean countries for Britain to pay reparations and apologize for its historical role in selling enslaved people for profit. Speaking recently to ITV News, Guyana’s president noted that while Charles has recognized slavery as the darkest days in human history, moving to the apology is "the next step".
Within hours of arriving in the Bahamas on Tuesday, the King acknowledged the "great suffering of the past" and confirmed that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting would address the legacy of slavery.
Among those greeting the King at Cheddi Jagan International Airport near the capital were Joseph Fisher, Britain’s High Commissioner to the country, and Ed Miliband, who joined the state visit following protocol in his role as Foreign Secretary.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) noted that Guyana represents the world’s fastest-growing economy and has become the UK’s largest trading partner in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
An FCDO spokesperson said: "His Majesty the King’s state visit to Guyana comes at an important moment, as Guyana marks 60 years of independence and the UK and Guyana celebrate six decades of close bilateral relations.
"The visit reflects the strength of the modern UK-Guyana partnership, including our close co-operation on trade and investment, climate and nature, and security, and our shared Commonwealth ties and people-to-people links."
The spokesperson added: "The visit will also recognise Guyana’s global importance on climate and nature.
"With over 85% forest coverage, storing more than 20 billion tonnes of carbon, Guyana is a critical partner in protecting biodiversity while supporting sustainable economic growth.
"Above all, the visit is an opportunity to celebrate Guyana’s rich culture, remarkable achievements and growing role within the Commonwealth, and to show how the UK and Guyana are working together in support of prosperity, opportunity and resilience for future generations."
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