King Charles III to visit Caribbean and South America in October-November

King Charles III is set to embark on a royal tour of the Caribbean and South America, with visits scheduled to the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda from October 27 to November 4. Buckingham Palace announced the itinerary, highlighting the trip's focus on celebrating the diverse communities, cultures, and natural environments within the Commonwealth family.

The monarch, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, will first visit the Bahamas, an archipelago where he serves as Head of State. This marks his first visit to the Caribbean nation since 1973, when he was the Prince of Wales. The King's role as Head of State extends to 15 of the more than 50 Commonwealth member countries.

Following his visit to the Bahamas, King Charles III will travel to Guyana for an official visit commemorating the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between the UK and Guyana. This visit is made at the invitation of the President of Guyana and at the request of the British government. Guyana is the only South American nation that is a member of the Commonwealth, and while the King is Head of State for Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda, he is not for Guyana.

Queen Camilla will join the King in Antigua and Barbuda, where the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will take place from November 1 to 4. King Charles III previously visited Antigua and Barbuda in November 2017, following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The announcement of the tour comes on the same day Prince Harry, the King's younger son, returned to the UK to live indefinitely with his wife Meghan and their children.