Queen Camilla Jokes "I've Given Up!" After Antigua Downpour

Queen Camilla joked "I've given up!" to reporters after reaching shelter from a torrential downpour at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St John's, Antigua, according to HELLO!. She gestured at her damp hair and dress as she spoke, and she was giggling once she reached the canopy.

The stadium was the venue for the annual Independence Ceremonial Parade, marking 45 years of Antigua and Barbuda's independence, on 1 November 2026. Reuters documented the King and Queen on their Caribbean tour that day. In August, Reuters had reported that the couple were due to carry out a week-long tour of Caribbean nations in late 2026, including a visit to Antigua and Barbuda.

King Charles had his own moment in the rain. HELLO! reports that he searched for his umbrella, showed brief frustration, and then saw the funny side.

The tour also involved some less comfortable logistics. In Georgetown, Guyana, a power cut across the neighbourhood knocked out the lifts at the press hotel. Travelling journalists had to carry their luggage down 14 flights of stairs in semi-darkness. The Guyana leg recorded 32C, but humidity made it feel closer to 38C.

Further along the route, the King made an impromptu decision to dance into the Junkanoo parade on Bay Street in Nassau. Junkanoo is a street festival in the Bahamas, known for costumed dancers and loud brass and drum music. Steel bands greeted him in all three countries, playing Moon River in Antigua and Daft Punk's Get Lucky at Georgetown's Kingston Seawall.

Tour artist Jonathan Yeo also had a difficult afternoon at the seawall. HELLO! reports that wind blew his Panama hat off while he took photographs from a jetty. He lay down and used a stick to retrieve it.

HELLO!'s Royal Editor, Emily Nash, travelled on the RAF Voyager, the Royal Air Force aircraft that carried the King and Queen, and reported the tour first-hand.