The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government has unveiled a packed itinerary for King Charles III when he visits The Bahamas later this month, with the three-day trip set to see him return to places he previously visited while taking part in cultural, environmental and diplomatic events.

The visit, scheduled for October 27th to 29th, forms part of a wider Autumn Tour geared towards celebrating communities, cultures and nature within the Commonwealth family.

The trip precedes the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda where he will attend after travelling to The Bahamas and then Guyana.

The Bahamas visit is especially significant because it differs constitutionally from that of an ordinary foreign leader since King Charles is King of The Bahamas and the country’s Head of State.

It will be his first visit here since succeeding Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, but  his second official visit to the country.

Queen Camilla will only link up with her husband after he visits The Bahamas alone.

In a statement released Friday, the government said the Royal visit will centre on themes critical to the country’s future, including sports, marine conservation and youth empowerment.

According to the release, King Charles will make his first official appearance at a Youth Rally at Clifford Park, where he will watch performances and displays by young Bahamians.

The event, the government said, will highlight “the importance of young people to the future of The Bahamas and the Commonwealth”, noting that more than 60 per cent of the Commonwealth’s population is aged 29 or under.

It will be the King’s second visit to Clifford Park. He first visited the site as Prince of Wales in 1973 to attend the country’s Independence celebrations.

He will also attend a youth empowerment event focused on sports.

His itinerary will also include a visit to an undisclosed nature site in New Providence, where he will learn about conservation efforts that have created an important habitat for wildlife while revitalising a previously degraded natural landscape.

The trip will also take King Charles to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Coral Harbour base. There, he will learn more about the RBDF’s role in safeguarding The Bahamas’ maritime borders, conducting search and rescue operations, supporting disaster response efforts and contributing to national security.

Other stops will include Parliament Square, where the government said the King will meet community representatives showcasing Bahamian culture from across the Family Islands.

His Majesty will also watch a traditional Junkanoo parade along Bay Street.

The Royal visit will conclude with a Garden Reception at Government House with local representatives after the King receives Governor General Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt and Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis.

Prime Minister Davis on Friday again welcomed the visit, saying he’s honored to welcome King Charles back to The Bahamas in his capacity as the country’s Head of State.

“This visit is a powerful symbol of our shared history and our continued commitment to the Commonwealth family. It provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the resilience, rich culture, and warm hospitality of the Bahamian people on the global stage."

The government also invited citizens to join in extending a warm welcome to King Charles during what it described an “historic occasion.”

However, the planned visit has already drawn criticism from the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, which has cited Britain’s historic oppression and injustices against Bahamians and their ancestors.

The committee said the government should stop preparing the country for royal visits and leaving taxpayers to pay the cost.

This newspaper understands that the government is working with the private sector to help alleviate some of the costs of the trip, which has not been disclosed.

Finance Minister Michael Halkitis could not say last month how much taxpayers will pay for the trip, but said expenses will be shared between the government and the Sovereign Grant.

The most recent major royal visit was in March 2022, when Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, travelled to The Bahamas as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The government earmarked $636,194 for expenses associated with that visit.