By Sohaib Shams
King Charles III began a two-day state visit to Guyana on Friday, sampling a limited-edition rum distilled in his honour at a cultural evening hosted by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
Rum tasting at state reception
The monarch was offered a glass of “Royal Welcome” 2026 rum, produced by Guyanese company Banks DIH and aged more than 20 years. After smelling the spirit, Charles took a sip, pulled a surprised face and laughed, declaring it “very good”. He quipped to nearby guests: “Do you drink this? Endless rum punches at the end of the day?” President Ali advised him to “drink it down”, and the King took another sip before joking that someone else would have to finish the glass.
Commonwealth tour and reparations debate
The visit marks the first leg of a nine-day Caribbean tour that began in the Bahamas and will conclude in Antigua and Barbuda, where Charles will open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The trip coincides with Guyana’s 60th anniversary of independence from Britain and follows renewed calls from Caribbean nations for a British apology and reparations for slavery. President Ali recently told ITV News that Charles has recognised slavery as the darkest days in human history, but moving to an apology is “the next step”.
Cultural events and upcoming engagements
Guests at the reception included musician Eddy Grant, born in Guyana, and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Performances featured Guyanese drummers and Scottish bagpipers from the National Piping Centre in Glasgow. During his stay in Georgetown, the King will lay a wreath at a Commonwealth War Graves ceremony, meet indigenous leaders from the National Toshaos Council, and visit the historic Kingston Seawall.
