King Charles honours four Bahamian Marines killed in 1980 attack

King Charles has laid a wreath at the Flamingo Monument in the Bahamas, paying tribute to four Bahamian Marines who died when their patrol vessel was sunk in 1980. The King visited the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the country's armed forces, at HMBS Coral Harbour on the second day of his Caribbean tour, according to Royal Central.

The vessel was HMBS Flamingo, a Bahamian patrol boat. It was attacked by Cuban MiG fighter aircraft, Soviet-built jets, on 10 May 1980, and it sank. The four men who died were Fenrick Sturrup, Austin Smith, David Tucker and Edward Williams.

During the visit, the King met relatives of each of the four men. He also met Gregory Curry, a crew member who survived the attack. Royal Central reported these meetings as part of the same visit.

The King's trip lasts nine days and covers three countries: the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda. It began in the Bahamas on Tuesday, according to the BBC.

The tour has also drawn attention for other reasons. At the start of his time in the Bahamas, the King said it was "only right" to acknowledge "the great suffering and injustices", as Reuters reported on 27 October. Associated Press reports that the King faces calls for an apology and for slavery reparations, which are payments to make amends for slavery. Those calls are being made by others and the King has not agreed to them.

The Flamingo Monument visit was a solemn stop on the trip. Wreaths are laid at memorials to honour those who died, and the King's presence at Coral Harbour brought the 1980 loss back into public view for the families and crew who were there.

The tour continues in Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda.