King and Queen Host Commonwealth Leaders to Dinner in Antigua
King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a dinner for Commonwealth leaders at the Blue Waters resort in Antigua and Barbuda, according to Hello magazine. The Commonwealth is a group of countries, most of them former British territories, that meets to talk about shared concerns. Eighty-four delegates attended, including prime ministers, high commissioners and other officials, among them the UK's Andy Burnham.
The dinner was held in the resort's open-sided dining room. The King and Queen had stayed at Blue Waters during their five-night visit to Antigua and Barbuda, one stop on a nine-day Caribbean tour that also took them to the Bahamas and Guyana.
The King wore black tie. The Queen wore a white marocain evening dress, a crinkled crepe fabric, by the designer Anna Valentine. It was embroidered with the Dagger Log, which is the national flower of Antigua.
Seating was arranged by country. The King sat between Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and Feleti Teo, Prime Minister of Tuvalu. The Queen sat at a separate table, between Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, and Philip E. Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas.
Guests were greeted at the reception with a cocktail called "The Commonwealth 56". It was made with hibiscus gin, lemon juice, English sparkling wine and a sugar syrup made from honey from Buckingham Palace. Music ran through the evening. The Hell's Gate Steel Orchestra played as guests arrived, and the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra accompanied the reception.
Guests then sat down to a three-course meal. Local pianist Khadijah Simon performed as part of a trio during dinner. The King also gave an address to the Commonwealth leaders at the dinner.
The Caribbean stop had earlier public events. The Court Circular, the official daily record of royal engagements, lists a Community Reception given by the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams. The Associated Press reported that the King and Queen attended an Independence Day parade on the islands and were caught in heavy rain while watching it.
Commonwealth leaders began meeting in Antigua from 1 November, according to Reuters, which also reported that the King had spoken of sorrow over slavery ahead of the tour. The dinner marked the gathering's most formal social evening so far, with the dress, the menu and the seating plan all set out in advance.
For guests, the evening was built around a long table, a short list of toasts and a drink named after the meeting itself. Those in the room saw the Queen's embroidered gown up close, and those at the far end heard the steel band before the first course.
