Bermuda just made history hosting the first ever visit by a reigning King, when His Majesty King Charles 111 arrived on 1st May 2026 for a three day visit to the Island.
The Bermuda Police Service was exceptionally busy during the tour of the Island as King Charles kept to a hectic schedule as detailed in this comprehensive report published by the Royal Gazette, CLICK HERE to read the full report
Thousands greet the King
From majorettes and gombeys, through a regimental gun salute and dignitaries, to babies, seniors and tourists who travelled to Bermuda solely for the occasion, residents and visitors turned out in droves to welcome King Charles III yesterday.
Throngs of people gathered at locations across the island yesterday to catch a glimpse of the monarch and many were rewarded with warm greetings, handshakes and quips from His Majesty.
Residents could be heard thanking the King for visiting their home country — his first official trip to a British Overseas Territory since his coronation.
Even the monarch seemed taken aback by the scale of the welcome, telling guests at a garden party last night: “It has given me the greatest pleasure to meet so many special people from the islands including, from what I can make out, half the population today.”
The monarch landed in Bermuda on Thursday evening in a British Airways plane bearing the King’s cypher, the Union Flag and the words United Kingdom.
A video recording soon circulated on social media showing a group of majorettes dancing on the roadside as the convoy of vehicles moved away from the airport, with music playing and others looking on.
Smoke rises as the Royal Bermuda Regiment artillerymen fire off The sovereign’s first official engagement came with all the fanfare the crowds could have hoped for — a parade on King’s Square in St George’s where he was received by the Royal Bermuda Regiment with a 21-gun salute, dignitaries and up to 2,000 excited members of the public.
The King also paid a visit to St Peter’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church outside of the British Isles and the same church he visited in 1970 when he was Prince of Wales on a visit marking the 350th anniversary of Parliament.
The King enjoyed a whirlwind tour across the length of the island, giving him the opportunity to connect with young people and artisans as well as learn about local conservation projects and cultural experiences.
No trip to Bermuda would be complete without our gombey dancers and the King was treated to a performance by the National Gombey Troupe when he ventured to the Royal Naval Dockyard, at Ireland Island, created in the late 1700s.
Another taste of the island’s cultural heritage came during a visit to City Hall in Hamilton where he met Michael Frith, one of the creators of The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock, and Eugene O’Connor, a master Bermuda kite maker.
Mayor of Hamilton Charles Gosling said he had had the pleasure of welcoming Queen Elizabeth II in 2009, shortly after he became Mayor, and was now greeting the King just days before he steps down.
“Today’s visit showcased the talent, creativity, and cultural richness of Bermuda, and it was especially meaningful to see our young people and artisans represented at the heart of the occasion,” he said.
While in Dockyard, the King also toured the Queen’s Exhibition Hall at the National Museum of Bermuda.
Elena Strong, the executive director of the museum, said: “The King was very interested in Bermuda’s role in the Atlantic and shipwreck heritage.”
The King’s interest in the environment was also piqued during a visit to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, where he was able to see a live longtail and learn about conservation efforts at the facility.
Jaché Adams, the environment minister, shared: “He was championing us on our continued efforts on the advocacy of the protection of our oceans.”
He later led the monarch to the driveway to make the first cut of BAMZ centennial birthday cake.
His Majesty cuts the BAMZ centennial birthday cake.
The crowds truly showed up to welcome the King as they cheered, waved Union flags and displayed banners.”
The Royal Visit was covered extensively by local media, especially the Royal Gazette and BERNEWS and we have taken the liberty of including some of their photos and videos here in this article.
Garden Party at Government House
One of the highlights of the Royal Visit for me personally was to be invited to a Garden Party held at the newly renovated Government House on Friday 1st May, along with some 200 guests where the Guest of Honour was His Majesty King Charles who is the first reigning King to ever visit Bermuda.
However, I well remember his first visit in 1970 - 56 years ago - when I had the honour of driving young Prince Charles around the Island.
I have to wonder how many of our fellow former police officers recall having to patrol Government House grounds 24 hours per day.
It was a very pleasant surprise to see another former Bermuda police officer at the reception, none other than our old friend, Phil Bermingham, who served here in our Scenes of Crime Department where he took up photography. Since leaving Bermuda in 1979 Phil has established a reputation as a world renowned photographer who has been commissioned to photograph Kings and Queens, Prime Ministers and Presidents, and numerous outstanding world leaders and personalities, CLICK HERE to read our "Then and Now" article on Phil's lifestory and his brilliant career as a photographer. Phil's iconic photograph of the Late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg was used as the basis of the U.S. Forever stamp honouring Justic Ginsberg. CLICK HERE to view our article on the Ginsberg Forever Stamp.
Today's Garden Party was also extra special for me personally because my daughter Joanna and grandson Eddie also attended and performed with a group of Philharmonic musicians during the reception.
Bermuda is ‘a cherished member’ of the British family
The Royal Gazette reported on the remarks given by King Charles to garden party attendees at Government House, after a day of touring the island. The King said: “I need hardly say that Bermuda, like all the Overseas Territories, is a most cherished and important member of the British family with a friendship, as solid as this so-called rock.
“For my family in particular, Bermuda has a distinct fond resonance.
“Sadly, increasingly few of us are old enough to remember that my mother and father, the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, made Bermuda the first stop in their Coronation Tour in 1953.”
The King noted that his family have often visited the island, adding that it meant a great deal to be invited back to the island by David Burt, the Premier.
He added: “I am told to my amazement that it is the first time in Bermuda’s 400 year history that the islands have actually received a reigning king. I am terribly sorry it has taken so long.”
The King recalled his first visit in 1970 as a 21-year-old able to “bound up all 185 steps at Gibbs Hill Lighthouse”.
He said: “Despite the years since, the impression left upon me by this extraordinary archipelago has not faded, and it has given me the greatest pleasure to meet so many special people from the islands including, from what I can make out, half the population today.
“Against the backdrop of such great natural scenery, the young people of Bermuda especially shone brightly today.
“Whether they were showcasing their art, their sport, their commitment to service, their passion for nature or their impressive gombey dance, I am proud to witness that the future of Bermuda can be trusted to such safe hands.”
He thanked Mr Burt, the Cabinet and the members of the parliament, stating that their welcome has been greatly appreciated.
Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, noted the recent completion of work at Government House days before the visit, adding: “While it is an old joke that Royal visits are often accompanied by the smell of wet paint, it is actually quite true in our building.”
He said that while much had changed on the island in the past 56 years, what had not was the warmth of the welcome offered by Bermuda and the pride that Bermudians take in their home.
Mr Murdoch said: “Across sports and science, business and arts, Bermuda’s reputation is recognised around the world. That influence is shaped by strong community ties and close relationships with the environment.
“There is a passionate commitment to protecting biodiversity and I am glad Your Majesty had the opportunity to see that on Trunk Island.”
He said that he hoped the visit highlighted some of the best of Bermuda, promising that the island could fill another programme if the King’s diary permitted.
Mr Murdoch said: “This is a jewel in the Atlantic, a valued member of the British family and it is a very great pleasure to welcome you here."
Royal Visit a Major Challenge for the Bermuda Police Service
This three day visit by King Charles was major challenge for the Bermuda Police Service and by all accounts it went off without a hitch due in large measure to the enormous amount of time and effort put into it by the men and women of the BPS. When asked for a comment on the event, Commissioner Darrin Simons stated, "This was an historic visit, the first by a reigning King to Bermuda, and the Bermuda Police Service was honoured to play its part in making it a success."
"Given the short notice, the number of locations, and the scale of logistics involved, this was no small undertaking. Every officer, every support role, every behind-the-scenes contribution mattered."
Commissioner Darrin Simons and his team who coordinated "I was particularly moved when the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Chief Justice And Cabinet Secretary, each took a moment on departure day to personally commend the Service for how exceptionally well we performed. That kind of recognition means a great deal, especially knowing our people gave everything they had.
Bermuda was on the world stage this week. The BPS rose to that moment. I couldn't be prouder of the Service”
King Charles on Bermuda memories that will last a lifetime
At the conclusion of King Charles' historic visit to Bermuda, the Royal Gazette published an article (CLICK HERE to view it) on his departure as his motorcade arrived at the airport where the King shook hands with Bermudian delegates, including David Burt, the Premier, and Andrew Murdoch, the Governor and posed for a photograph with members of the Bermuda Police Service before waving farewell to the Island.
The sovereign later thanked Bermudians on the Royal Family Instagram Page. The post read:
"Thank you to the wonderful people of Bermuda for such a wonderful few days and for the fond memories that will last a lifetime.
"I carry your joyful enthusiasm home with me, with my most heartfelt gratitude for your kind support and for that famous island hospitality - until we meet again,"
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Reflecting on the short, but busy visit, Mr Burt said: “It was a pleasure to welcome His Majesty, King Charles III to Bermuda. Over the past few days, the King met Bermudians across the island and experienced our culture, history, natural environment and community life.
“The visit provided positive exposure for Bermuda and gave many residents an opportunity to participate in events and engagements across the island.
“I thank all those who worked to support the visit and I hope His Majesty enjoyed his time in Bermuda.”
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Video Highlights of King Charles’ Visit to Bermuda produced and published by BERNEWS
For those of our ExPo website readers who live abroad and may not have seen TV or video coverage of the Royal Visit to Bermuda, we happened to see a list of 12 lovely videos produced and published by BERNEWS covering many of the highlights of King Charles’ Visit including "participation in ceremonies, meetings, community events, environmental tours, and cultural activities, while also meeting residents, officials, students, and representatives from various organizations. His schedule included appearances at locations such as City Hall, Dockyard, Trunk Island, and other sites connected to Bermuda’s history, environment, and maritime heritage.” BERNEWS has beautifully captured many of these highlights in their videos.
We have taken the liberty of listing the 12 Highlight Videos below and providing you with the links to them on YouTube so you can view them at your leisure. Please use the caption below each image to open the link
King’s Visit to Albouy’s Point
King’s Speech at Government House
King Charles Opens Great Bay Coast Guard Station
King Charles at Albouy’s Point
King Charles Meets Bermudian Artists
King Charles Arrives at City Hall
King Charles Arriving in Bermuda