King and Queen Arrive in Antigua and Barbuda for Commonwealth Summit Week
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Antigua and Barbuda, the latest stop on their Caribbean tour. The visit falls during the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, known as CHOGM, a gathering of leaders from the Commonwealth, the association of countries that were once part of the British Empire.
The King and Queen's Autumn Tour runs from Tuesday 27 October to Wednesday 4 November 2026, according to the Royal Family's official website. The tour covers The Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda. The King visited The Bahamas and Guyana first, and the Queen joined him in Antigua and Barbuda.
Soon after landing, the couple attended a church service at St John's Pentecostal House of Restoration, which formed part of the wider CHOGM programme. Royal Central reported that they were greeted there by Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams and his wife, Lady Sandra Williams. The Governor-General is the country's head of state's representative, carrying out most of the formal duties on the monarch's behalf.
Several other guests were there to meet them. The King and Queen met The Very Reverend Dwane Cassius, Dean and Parish Priest for the Cathedral and Parish of St John the Divine. They also met Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who was accompanied by his wife, Maria Browne.
Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs and chair of the CHOGM 2026 Task Force, attended the service, as did Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey. The Secretary-General leads the Commonwealth's permanent staff. Janet Cooper OBE, chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, was present, along with Sir Viv Richards, the cricketing great who serves as CHOGM Envoy.
The music came from the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Orchestra and the Inspire Youth Choir, which led the hymns. The choir won the 2016 Commonwealth Choir Competition and performed at Buckingham Palace in 2018.
For the people in the pews, the service was a chance to see the Commonwealth at work. Young local musicians played in a church that is part of the summit programme, and the visit put the country's leaders and church figures in one room with the royal couple. The choir's earlier trip to Buckingham Palace is a reminder that the links between these groups run in both directions.
The tour is still under way. The King and Queen are due to remain in Antigua and Barbuda until the end of the Autumn Tour on 4 November.
