king charles iii tour of uk

• Work & Careers
• Life & Arts

Become an FT subscriber

Try unlimited access Only $1 for 4 weeks

Then $75 per month. Complete digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Cancel anytime during your trial.

• Global news & analysis
• Expert opinion
• Special features
• FirstFT newsletter
• Videos & Podcasts
• Android & iOS app
• FT Edit app
• 10 gift articles per month

Explore more offers.

Standard digital.

• FT Digital Edition

Premium Digital

Print + premium digital, weekend print + standard digital, weekend print + premium digital.

Today's FT newspaper for easy reading on any device. This does not include ft.com or FT App access.

• 10 additional gift articles per month
• Global news & analysis
• Exclusive FT analysis
• Videos & Podcasts
• FT App on Android & iOS
• Everything in Standard Digital
• Premium newsletters
• Weekday Print Edition
• FT Weekend Print delivery
• Everything in Premium Digital

Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

• Everything in Print

Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

Terms & Conditions apply

Explore our full range of subscriptions.

Why the ft.

See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times.

International Edition

King Charles to undertake a tour of the UK - where will he go?

The royal will visit all four nations.

Following the sad passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles is set to carry out a tour of the UK. The new monarch will visit each of the four nations on his tour, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

MORE: Special edition issue: Hello! pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

King Charles will begin in London, as the final preparations for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral are carried out, and then he is due to travel to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

WATCH: King Charles III leaving on a plane for Edinburgh

During the visit, the royal will meet with the leaders of each nation in the UK. King Charles will kick off the tour with a visit to the Scottish parliament and a service at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

READ: Will Prince William and Duchess Kate need to move house again after the Queen's death?

Northern Ireland

On Tuesday, the king will arrive in Northern Ireland, where he will be the recipient of another motion of condolence at Hillsborough Castle. He will also attend a service at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.

The King is set to carry out a royal tour

The final part of the royal's trip will oversee the king travelling to Wales approximately seven days after the death of the Queen. He is to receive another motion of condolence at the Welsh parliament and attend a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.

On Monday afternoon, King Charles will lead an emotional procession behind his late mother, the Queen, as she is taken from Holyroodhouse to St.Giles' cathedral.

The royal will visit parts of Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland

Her Majesty's coffin will be under vigil for 24 hours before she makes her journey back to London to lie in state.

The King is expected to lead members of the royal family on foot behind the Queen's coffin, whilst the Queen Consort and other members of the monarchy will follow in cars.

SEE: King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla shutdown Twitter and Instagram pages

After the procession, Charles will hold audiences with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Alison Johnstone, the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Words of sympathy will be expressed by the Scottish Parliament when Charles and Camilla attend to receive a motion of condolence, with the King replying.

Make sure you never miss a ROYAL story! Sign up to our newsletter to get all of our celebrity and royal news delivered directly to your inbox.

• King Charles

More Royalty

Why Prince Harry didn't receive a new honour from King Charles

The special meaning behind Princess Kate's incredible new honour from King Charles

King Charles gives prestigious new roles to four family members

Inside the Duke of Westminster's connections to the royal family

Eco royals: How King Charles, Prince William, Princess Eugenie & more are fighting to protect the planet

King Charles reappears on late Queen's birthday as he drives wife Queen Camilla to church

Our Eco King: 6 positive things King Charles has done for the planet

King Charles celebrates surprising news linked to daughter-in-law Meghan Markle's new venture

Meet beth and bluebell: the new dogs of buckingham palace, what is the vigil of the princes royals to carry out poignant tradition beside queen's coffin, prince harry mimics dad charles' king speech - see the incredible coincidence, queen camilla's son returns to social media - days after new royal title was announced.

PM Truss to accompany King Charles on tour of Britain to lead mourning

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Alistair Smout, writing by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Michael Holden

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

World Chevron

New UK sanctions target Iranian drone industry

Britain on Thursday announced new sanctions targeting Iran's military drone industry, in response to Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel earlier this month.

King Charles III visits Wales to complete UK tour

The new monarch wraps up his tour of the UK nations in Wales, where he met some opposition to his ascent to the throne.

Crowds have cheered for King Charles III in Wales despite some opposition to his ascent to the throne as the new monarch wrapped up his tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom.

A large crowd chanted “God save the king” on Friday as Charles shook hands with the public following a multi-faith service in Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral on what is the last of his visits to the UK’s four nations.

Charles then attended the Welsh Parliament to receive politicians’ condolences following the death on September 8 of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96.

In a speech alternating between English and Welsh, he promised to follow the “selfless example” of the UK’s longest-serving monarch.

Outside his next stop at Cardiff Castle, a few protesters held up banners declaring “Abolish the monarchy”, “Citizen not subject” and “Democracy now”.

Queen’s funeral

At Westminster Abbey in London on Monday morning, the queen will be honoured with UK’s first state funeral in nearly 60 years, with more than 2,000 guests expected.

After the televised service, the coffin will be transferred by royal hearse to Windsor Castle, west of London, for a family-only burial in which the queen will be laid to rest alongside her late husband Philip, parents and sister.

US President Joe Biden, Australian leader Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron have all confirmed their attendance at the funeral, as have Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and numerous other royals.

“The queen held a unique and timeless position in all our lives,” said Duke of Norfolk Edward Fitzalan-Howard, also known as the earl marshal, who is organising the funeral.

“The next few days will unite people across the globe and resonate with people of all faiths, whilst fulfilling her majesty and her family’s wishes to pay a fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign,” he told reporters.

Police are mounting the UK’s biggest-ever security operation in the run-up to the funeral, as crowds file past the queen’s coffin round the clock all weekend and global dignitaries jet in.

On Friday morning, two police officers were stabbed in central London, one suffering “life-changing” injuries, the Metropolitan Police said, but it ruled out any link to “terrorism”.

Meanwhile, an official delegation from China has been banned from attending the lying-in-state following an intervention by House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, parliamentary sources said.

It comes after China sanctioned several British lawmakers over their criticism of the country’s human rights record.

“As the hosts, the British side should uphold both diplomatic courtesy and gracious hospitality,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

Downing Street refused to comment.

The line to enter the vast Westminster Hall, where Elizabeth’s coffin has been lying in state since late Wednesday has attracted an endless stream of mourners. On Friday, the government said those at the end faced a wait of at least 14 hours.

The coffin is draped in the Royal Standard flag, with the Imperial State Crown, her ceremonial Orb and Sceptre on top, with tall, flickering candles at each corner.

The sombre atmosphere is completed with guards in ceremonial uniform posted around the podium in a constant vigil.

Mourners marked their moment in front of the coffin in various ways, from bows or curtsies to the sign of the cross or by simply removing their hats.

Some wiped away tears. Others brought infants in pushchairs. Old soldiers stopped and gave one last salute to their former commander-in-chief.

Meanwhile, in Cardiff, many had waited for hours before Charles’s visit.

“Something like this won’t happen again,” said barman Jack Grimshaw, 27, who turned out with his young son.

“The royal family has been around for so many years [but] we didn’t have a new king for so long.”

Not everyone was happy to see the new monarch in Wales. Zahra Ameri, 22, said the funeral was a “waste of money”.

“I’m hoping that Wales becomes independent. Of course, it would be a disturbance in our economy because we do rely on the UK, but I strongly believe in independence,” she said.

King Charles III's whistlestop tour is a 21st century effort to preserve a divided kingdom

Holders of the Crown always need to move quick to consolidate their power, writes Fleet Street Fox. It helps if you have a sword

• 13:07, 12 Sep 2022
• Updated 13:09, 12 Sep 2022

For a thousand years, the succession of a new monarch has depended more on speed than heredity.

In the 12th century, the Empress Matilda was cheated of her rightful throne by her cousin Stephen, when he got to London before she did. When Mary marched against the usurper Jane Grey 400 years later, she needed the support of the City, the Mint, the guilds, and the army before she was declared the winner.

A new monarch rapidly getting their paws on the levers of power still matters today, which is why King Charles III is undertaking Operation Spring Tide, as he pinballs around Britain and Northern Ireland accepting oaths, signing declarations, and affirming the union of home nations where a sizeable chunk of people have wanted rid of his family for centuries.

In years gone by, the consolidation of that power came at the point of a sword. A new monarch often needed a quick and convincing war to ensure he had a good grip on the throne, and that meant picking a fight with the Picts, waging war on the Welsh, and decorating London Bridge with a few fresh heads in a warning to any rebels.

Today it's being undertaken by a jet of the Royal Flight, and modern manners means that representatives of Sinn Fein, Plaid Cymru, and the Scottish National Party are lining up to kowtow to the scion of a system their supporters want shot of, in places where Robert the Bruce, Owain Glyndwr, and Ruaidrí, King of Connacht, are still considered to have better claims.

The man has lost his mother, and the nation its grandmother. They have, quite rightly, decided there's a time and a place for Republicanism, and it's not before a Royal funeral.

But these niceties mean the new king has a fortnight to get his feet under the table in Holyrood, Hillsborough, and Cardiff. And if he has any sense, he'll follow it up with a lightning-quick tour of the Commonwealth, when it still won't be the right time for presidents and prime ministers to tell him they want no part of it.

But there's a big headache coming with all of this, from dozens of nations whose leaders have made it clear they'll make no move for freedom during the Queen's life, but see little point in hanging around for her son.

A tour from a highly-visible little old lady would have been a winner; one with a beautiful princess is also always popular. But those starring gloomy grandad Charles have always been less of a draw, at home and abroad. He doesn't get the crowds, or the headlines, and his state visits have always been diplomatically slotted in between those of more popular Royals.

In recent years his more-handsome sons and their wives have been sent out to shore up support in the dominions. But now half the Fab Four have decamped to California in a huff, and the remainder made an absolute hash of their last trip.

Some may think that reminding republican elements worldwide that Wills and Kate are coming up the track is the best thing he can do to preserve the future of the monarchy - but few kings win a nation's support by pointing out there'll be another one along soon.

Times have changed, of course. He's not winning loyalty with violence, and whatever happens there's no danger of losing the kingship of Scotland or Wales, even if they diverge politically.

Nor is he, for any of his much-catalogued failings, unpopular on the scale of murderous King John, massacre-friendly Edward Longshanks, or peasant-hater Richard II. He is a philanthropist who turned the Duchy of Cornwall into a billion-pound industry, a thinker and doer, and his kingship could be a much-needed period of increased Royal activism.

But he is disabled by one simple thing, which is that he is not his mother. A Queen can put on a bright hat, wear different colours, be draped in jewels. A King once used to do the same, but these days he's just a bloke in a suit. He seems more boring in an age that seeks constant stimulation, and this one won't be able to gain favour by winning the Hundred Years' War.

A constitutional crown is protected from public hate by not being responsible for policy ,but the last monarch won love with her long service, and Charles won't be able to claim that, either.

He, and we, know that we'll be doing this all over again in another 10 years or so. What we do not know is whether he can convince his people to stick with him, in an age where everyone's a consumer and content creator, and thinks public life can be curated, like an Instagram feed, so the prettiest people are at the top.

I suspect he knows that, and is prepared to try, whether it's in TikToks or time-honoured tradition. The only question is whether we'll ever realise how lucky we are to have someone prepared to do all this at the age of 73, instead of retiring to a farm.

He's trying to preserve a kingdom, at home and abroad, in order that he can hand it on. But what he's consolidating is not ownership, these days - it is a way of life that protects us from dictators, gives us certainty that those nations which dunked their Royals now lack, and an absolute guarantee that, whoever wins an election by however much, there is always someone to whom the holders of our highest elected office must still bend the knee.

Enforcing humility on the egos in Downing Street is a priceless public service that other nations envy: our crowning constitutional glory. That's what he's shoring up. And I hope he knows what he's doing, because it seems that some of his people don't.

MORE ON Owain Glyndwr Robert the Bruce Henry V Commonwealth Sinn Féin SNP Hundred Years' War Royal Family Public services Politics King Charles III

Get email updates with the day's biggest stories.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

The King's Real Estate: All About King Charles III's Homes Across the U.K.

The new King owns properties throughout England, Scotland and Wales

Natalia Senanayake is an Editorial Assistant, Lifestyle at PEOPLE. She covers all things travel and home, from celebrities' luxury mansions to breaking travel news.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, King Charles III has officially become the new monarch of the United Kingdom.

With royalty comes real estate, and King Charles is no stranger to an impressive portfolio of properties all over England, Scotland and Wales. Both inherited and purchased, the former Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, who is now Queen Consort , had a total of six estates of their own — and that's before he adds Queen Elizabeth 's homes as well, including her favorite, Balmoral, where she died .

Buckingham Palace

Following his accession to the throne, King Charles inherited Buckingham Palace, the most famous royal residence in the United Kingdom, however, he won't immediately live there. As stated below, his main home is Clarence House.

The 775-room palace has served as the official London residence and administrative headquarters of the U.K. royals since 1837. It's also where the sovereign holds weekly meetings with the prime minister, according to the royals' official website .

Clarence House

Clarence House is located beside St. James's Palace in London and is the official residence of the former Prince of Wales .

Construction of the property was completed in 1827 and the house underwent major renovations from 2002 to 2003. It doubles as an office space for the Prince of Wales's household, and its primary rooms are used "for receptions and other official entertaining and to receive official visitors to the UK," according to the official website .

The house is open to visitors every year during the month of August.

Highgrove House

Two and a half hours outside of London is the King and Queen Consort's "family home" in Gloucestershire, England, known as Highgrove House .

As stated on the official website , King Charles "chose to live in Gloucestershire because of its easy access to London, Wales and other parts of Britain." The property was purchased in 1980 and is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.

Featuring a colorful garden and lush surrounding farmland, the estate also includes the impressive Orchard Room built out of Cotswold stone in support of the local architecture. King Charles would often hold briefings and receptions at Highgrove House.

Another private residence of King Charles is located on the Balmoral estate in Scotland. Balmoral Castle , where Queen Elizabeth died peacefully on Thursday, resides on the same property.

The royal couple enjoy spending their summers at the residence and getting involved in the local community. Some of their favorite activities include "fishing and walking in the Scottish countryside," according to the website .

The King and Queen Consort also spent their honeymoon at the property, according to the BBC ..

Llwynywermod

Llwynywermod is the King's Welsh property located in proximity to the village of Myddfai, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. The residence is used whenever the royal couple travel to Wales and during their annual summer tour.

After the property was purchased in 2006, renovations were done to include locally sourced textiles and materials from within Wales. The compound includes three cottages and a barn in addition to the main house, according to House & Garden . The surrounding farmland is also home to many sheep.

Dumfries House

Located in Ayrshire, Scotland, is Dumfries House, which the King purchased in 2007 in an effort to restore and improve the historic property after it was put up for sale .

In reference to the King's renovations. the estate's website notes, "the transformation of Dumfries House has brought many employment opportunities to the local area, which was greatly affected by the demise of the coal mining industry, and stands as a prime example of heritage-led regeneration."

Although the property belongs to the King, it is mainly a tourist attraction where visitors can tour the grounds and even stay overnight at the Dumfries House Lodge .

The Castle of Mey

Finally, nestled on the northern coast of Scotland in Caithness lies the Castle of Mey, a property that King Charles inherited from his grandmother, the Queen Mother , after her death in 2002. King Charles serves as President of the castle and "visits at least once each year, renting the castle for a few days each August," states the official website .

The historic estate also features a ten-bedroom bed and breakfast , known as the Granary Lodge , where visitors can even catch a glimpse of the northern lights when conditions are right.

Related Articles

• UK politics
• Northern Ireland

King Charles III

King charles looked for heroes to honour – and picked william, kate and camilla. laugh cry you choose, is kent ready for the duchy of cornwall’s next poundbury, from the observer archive gossipy insights into the marriage of charles and diana, 1991, queen's consent investigations courtier demanded assurance king could not be prosecuted under new welsh law, give water company board members a taste of filthy rivers, tea and a tour of balmoral castle that will set you back £150, king charles attends easter service in windsor – video.

King Charles attends Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle

King charles praises 'hand of friendship' in maundy thursday audio message.

King lauds friendship ‘in time of need’ in first comments since princess’s diagnosis

Speculation about princess of wales was worst i’ve seen, says former adviser, on a garden bench, amid a sea of daffodils: how kate dropped her bombshell news, britain’s slimmed-down monarchy has been left vulnerable in wake of cancer diagnoses, burden falls on prince william to steer monarchy through next few months, a very private school by charles spencer – a history of violence, what we know about the princess of wales’s cancer diagnosis, royal family’s cancer diagnoses echo the ‘annus horribilis’, the garrick club’s notable members – in pictures, false king charles death story spread by russian media outlets, saudi defence deal who is prince miteb saudi royal said to have pocketed mod money.

• Catherine, Princess of Wales
• Prince William

King Charles III Was Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, Given 2 Years To Live?

The rumor spread after buckingham palace announced the british monarch's cancer diagnosis on feb. 5, 2024., nick hardinges, published april 1, 2024.

About this rating

In late March 2024, weeks after Buckingham Palace announced King Charles is suffering from an unspecified form of cancer, celebrity gossip magazine In Touch Weekly published an article allegedly offering specifics on his diagnosis. Citing anonymous sources, the article claimed he has pancreatic cancer and only two years to live.

One source reportedly told In Touch Weekly some people close to the British monarch believe his cancer "is worse than they're making it out to be," while another allegedly told the publication Charles "is not only battling pancreatic cancer... but has a mere two years to live."

Yahoo published a version of the article and numerous other news outlets  covered the rumor. Examples of the claim also spread to X (formerly Twitter), Facebook  and TikTok .

Many readers contacted Snopes asking whether the claim about Charles' specific cancer diagnosis and his purported ominous timeline were true.

We rated this claim "Unproven" because the alleged sources in the In Touch Weekly article were anonymous and, therefore, we were unable to track them down to independently verify their claims. Snopes contacted the publication asking for information on how it reported the story.

Searching the Royal Family's website and Google , there was no evidence of the Palace revealing Charles' specific form of cancer. No reputable news publications substantiated the rumor — which, if true, would be eminently newsworthy.

On Feb. 5, 2024, Buckingham Palace announced  the monarch was diagnosed with cancer; however, the type was not revealed, as reported by the BBC , Reuters  and The Associated Press .

Snopes contacted Buckingham Palace for its comment on the rumor, and we will update this article if, or when, we receive responses.

'A statement from Buckingham Palace'.  Royal.UK , 5 Feb. 2024, https://www.royal.uk/a-statement-from-buckingham-palace-5Feb24.

Holden, Michael, and Muvija M. 'King Charles Diagnosed with Cancer, Will Postpone Duties and Undergo Treatment'. Reuters , 6 Feb. 2024. www.reuters.com , https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-king-charles-diagnosed-with-cancer-buckingham-palace-2024-02-05/.

'King Charles III Is Being Treated for Cancer and Will Temporarily Halt His Public Duties'. AP News , 5 Feb. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-iii-cancer-britain-e0408a7c9bb86ad2af8754ce4b37d65e.

Marshall, Louisa. 'King Charles' Funeral Plans Unveiled Amid His Cancer Battle'. In Touch Weekly , 29 Mar. 2024, https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/king-charles-funeral-plans-unveiled-amid-his-cancer-battle/.

'What Do We Know about King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis?' BBC News , 5 Feb. 2024. www.bbc.co.uk , https://www.bbc.com/news/health-68203457.

By Nick Hardinges

Nick Hardinges is a London-based reporter who previously worked as a fact-checker at Reuters.

Article Tags

• Entertainment
• Celebrities
• Ticket Sales
• Promoted: What to Watch on Prime Video

Live updates

Prince harry could cancel uk may trip over safety concerns after losing security: report.

• View Author Archive
• Follow on Twitter
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Prince Harry is considering pulling the plug on his rumored upcoming trip to London, according to reports.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, was reportedly gearing up to jet off to his home soil in May to celebrate the  10th anniversary of the Invictus Games .

But according to insiders, Harry is concerned over his own safety after being stripped of taxpayer-funded security protection in the UK.

Sources claim that the father of two is now looking into appearing via video link or a prerecorded message instead.

“Whenever Harry travels to the UK, his trips are always dependent on how secure he is,” a source told the Express .

“Before deciding whether to attend the Invictus Games anniversary event, his security team must be sure that St. Paul’s is adequately protected by the metropolitan police and his own security needs are met while he’s in London.”

“Harry wants to spend more time in the UK with his family, but there’s no way he can do that while a question mark hangs over his security detail,” the source added.

The insider added that Harry was left “extremely disappointed” over his security in the UK — or lack thereof.

The Post has reached out to Harry’s reps for comment.

While  Harry’s rumored trip  is still unconfirmed, it’s believed that celebrations will take place at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

It’s unclear if the trip will be yet another solo venture, following hot on the heels of his 24-hour dash in February .

That month, Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, 42, were stripped of funded police protection  after they stepped back from being “working royals” and moved to the US in 2020.

This means that the Sussexes will now have to pay out of pocket for their security when traveling across the pond.

Harry’s lawyers had  sought a judicial review  of the government’s refusal of his offer to hire police officers as his private security detail, which was  initially denied  by London’s High Court in May 2023.

And earlier this month, Harry lost his bid to appeal London High Court’s ruling in a final blow to his case.

What’s more, he was ordered to pay 90% of the UK Home Office’s legal costs for defending the court’s initial ruling.

Share this article:

Advertisement

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Jamaica on track to remove King Charles as head of state by 2025, minister says

Exclusive : jamaica is still lobbying the uk to remove visa restrictions for its citizens, since it is the only country with charles iii as king which is subject to the demands, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White

Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter the race report, thanks for signing up to the the race report email.

Jamaica is on track to remove King Charles III as its head of state by 2025, the nation’s state foreign minister has said.

Alando Terrelonge, a member of parliament and state minister, said the nation is gearing towards becoming a republic after more than 350 years of colonial rule.

The move will mean the former British colony would become “truly liberated” while honouring its African ancestors who were trafficked, brutalised and enslaved by Britain for centuries, he said in an exclusive interview with The Independent.

“We remain hopeful that by 2025 we would have completed those reforms and removed the British monarch as the head of our democracy,” he said, adding “notwithstanding it being a figurehead and that real power resides with the government of Jamaica and the people of Jamaica.”

Charles is currently king of Jamaica and a British monarch has ruled Jamaica since imperialists colonised the country in 1655.

However in 2022, the country’s prime minister Andrew Holness announced intentions for the realm to become a republic during an ill-fated royal tour of the country by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The goal is for this process to be completed by the time of the next general election in 2025, building upon discussions raised by successive governments in Jamaica since the 1970s.

“I’ve always maintained that we owe it to our ancestors who fought and died so that we could be free, we owe it to the framers of our constitution, the work done by our national heroes, for Jamaica to now walk as truly liberated and independent,” said Mr Terrelonge, during a visit to London.

“With having a Jamaican head of state, every single young king and young queen in Jamaica can aspire to one day be the head of state of their own country, and we’ll no longer have to, figuratively or not, pay respect or swear allegiance to a foreign monarch.”

In order to become a republic, Jamaica must table the Constitution of Jamaica Bill which would need to be passed in both houses of parliament in Jamaica with a two-thirds majority vote, according to Jamaica’s Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte.

This bill would then be followed by a referendum on the question of whether Jamaica should become a republic, which will have to be approved by the majority of people who are registered to vote in general elections.

Last year, prime minister Holness appointed 14 members of a Constitutional Reform Committee to discuss the necessary steps in transforming Jamaica into a republic including who the president, replacing the British monarch, will be.

However, the committee has been described as a flawed undertaking that reportedly excludes anti-monarchists and representatives from the LGBT+ communities.

Moreover, the fact that the majority of committee members are lawyers has drawn criticism that the group lacks the diversity and does not reflect Jamaica’s population.

In recent years, various Jamaican government representatives have reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to ditching the monarchy and Ms Malahoo Forte has previously said that Britain’s poor track record on racism, failure to apologise for slavery and perpetration of the Windrush scandal all contributed to reasons why Jamaica is keen to become a republic.

Meanwhile, Mr Terrelonge told The Independent Jamaica continues to lobby the British government to scrap visa restrictions for its citizens so they may freely travel to the UK.

The topic was a point of discussion during a group of British MPs’ recent visit to Jamaica in November, he revealed, on a trip aimed at “strengthening bilateral ties and foster meaningful discussions” through a parliamentary exchange programme.

“Last year, I received several of the British parliamentarians at the ministry of foreign affairs and, of course, the question of visa was at the top of the list as well. It remains an ongoing concern for us.

“Given the historic ties between Jamaica and the UK, we believe it would be good for the visa restrictions to be lifted.”

As a point of compromise, the state minister suggested that Britain should begin by lifting travel restrictions on Jamaican creatives, business owners and members of government.

Jamaica is currently the only country with the British monarch as head of state that requires visas to enter the UK. All Jamaican citizens are subject to the restrictions if they wish to enter the UK.

“When I travel for work, I still need a visa to come to the United Kingdom even though I travel on a diplomatic passport,” he explained.

This sanction was introduced in 2003 and the UK government’s own data reveals a significant number of refusals of visitor visa applications from Jamaica.

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

The Jamaican government faces ongoing calls to cease doing business with Conservative Party donor Frank Hester following his reported racist comments about Diane Abbott, Britain’s first Black woman MP, who happens to be of Jamaican heritage.

In 2022, Mr Hester’s company, TPP, was given a $5 million contract to implement its electronic health record system in Jamaica .

Though Mr Terrelonge declined to comment on that specific call and stopped short of condemning Mr Hester, he said: “The comments about my colleague Member of Parliament were very unfortunate and should never have been said.

“I hope that as human beings, we reflect upon the things that unite us and move away from things that would seek to set us apart, whether it's gender, race, religion... We must see ourselves as one humanity.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

How King Charles III and Queen Camilla Spent 19th Wedding Anniversary

King Charles III and Queen Camilla reportedly celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary at their Balmoral estate in Scotland.

The king, 75, and his wife, 76, traveled to Aberdeen and completed the hour-long drive to the property, located on the banks of the River Muick, one day after their anniversary on Tuesday, April 9, according to Hello!

The royal couple made the same trip to Birkhall to mark their honeymoon nearly two decades prior. Charles and Camilla wed in 2005, nearly 10 years after his divorce from Princess Diana was finalized . (Diana, with whom Charles welcomed sons Prince William and Prince Harry , died in 1997.)

In contrast to the traditional royal weddings marked by public fanfare and crowds gathering around Buckingham Palace, Charles and Camilla exchanged vows in a low-key ceremony with only 28 attendees, including William, now 41, Harry, now 37, and Camilla's children with ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles , daughter Laura and son Tom .

Looking Back at King Charles III and Queen Camilla's Wedding 19 Years Later

The pair's anniversary getaway was a well-deserved respite from recent challenges within the royal family. Buckingham Palace announced in February that Charles was diagnosed with a form of cancer after undergoing a procedure for an enlarged prostate. At the time, the palace noted in a statement that Charles would be scaling back his public-facing duties while receiving treatment.

"I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days," the king said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace later that month. "As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement."

Amid his health battle, Charles has restricted his workload primarily to private audiences at the palace. Last month, His Majesty made an appearance at the royals' Easter Mattins service in Windsor.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla's Relationship Timeline

Other members of the royal family have also stepped up while Charles focuses on his health. Earlier this month, Charles turned to younger brother Prince Edward and his wife, Duchess Sophie , for a Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Edward, 60, has acquired a new title - a member of the esteemed Order of the Thistle - while taking on increased responsibilities as senior working royals. Along with Charles, Princess Kate Middleton has taken a break from public duties after revealing her own cancer diagnosis in March.

King Charles III Goes to Church on What Would Have Been Queen Elizabeth II's 98th Birthday

Kate middleton's cancer reveal: inside the making of and what charles and william knew, chrissy teigen and john legend dish on meghan markle’s jam they'll keep 'forever' (exclusive), chris pine recalls feeling 'terrified' at 'princess diaries 2' premiere 20 years ago (exclusive), khloé kardashian introduces the family's newest addition, how matty healy feels about taylor swift's 'the tortured poets department' rumored diss track, jill duggar reunites with estranged dad jim bob for her daughter isla's funeral service, courteney cox reveals boyfriend johnny mcdaid once broke up with her during a therapy session, watch ariana biermann seemingly react to mom kim zolciak's post implying kroy died, billie eilish makes confessions about self-pleasure, tour inside lisa vanderpump’s lake tahoe restaurant wolf (exclusive), why kathie lee gifford plans to keep future romances out of the spotlight (exclusive), how travis kelce feels about taylor swift's 'the tortured poets department', anne heche’s son homer says estate can't pay her $6 million debt, jimmie allen admits he contemplated suicide following sexual assault allegations, kyle richards’ daughter farrah aldjufrie's la home burglarized in broad daylight, why kathie lee gifford says 'the golden bachelorette' won't work for her (exclusive), '90 day fiancé': alex tries to talk loren out of her ‘mommy makeover’ surgery (exclusive), 'little people, big world' season finale: watch zach and tori's final scene, travis kelce reacts to taylor swift's 'punk'd' episode with justin bieber, kim kardashian reveals she used to walk madonna’s dogs in exchange for her jewelry, how isabella strahan responded to fan asking if she's still alive, queen elizabeth ii died at the age of 96 on sept. 8, 2022..

King Charles III quietly marked a special occasion.

On Sunday, the 75-year-old royal attended church service near Balmoral Castle with his wife, Queen Camilla . The king was spotted driving his wife on the grounds of Crathie Kirk. The pair didn't exit the vehicle to speak to onlookers, but they did smile and wave to members of the public. 

Sunday's service fell on the day that the late  Queen Elizabeth II  would have marked her 98th birthday. Elizabeth, who was the longest reigning monarch in British royal history, died on Sept. 8, 2022 . She was 96.

The outing comes three weeks after Charles and Camilla attended Easter Sunday service at  St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle . Easter service marked the first time that Charles appeared in full public capacity after scaling back his royal duties following the news of his cancer diagnosis . 

In a move that shocked well-wishers, Charles did a walkabout, greeting members of the public who lined up to see the family.

Missing from the outing was Charles' son, Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton . The couple spent the Easter holiday out of the public eye with their three children as Kate undergoes preventative chemotherapy following her own cancer diagnosis . 

Since revealing his health news, Charles has been resting and recuperating  from his cancer treatments at Sandringham Estate until he is fully cleared to go back to work. In recent weeks, however, he has been picking his work back up and taking meetings and other state business from Buckingham Palace. 

In March, Peter Phillips  opened up about his uncle's recovery , saying the British monarch was feeling "frustrated" over his recuperation timeline and pushing himself and those around him to speed up the progress. 

"He's in good spirits," Phillips told  Sky News Australia . "I think, ultimately, he's hugely frustrated. He's frustrated that he can't get on and do everything that he wants to be able to do."

He continued, "He is always pushing his staff and everybody and his doctors and nurses to be able to say, 'Actually come on, you know, can I do this? Can I do that?'"

Phillips added: "But he is very pragmatic [and] he understands that there's a period of time that he really needs to focus on himself."

Despite his cancer battle, Charles has been there to offer support to Kate. In March, royal expert, Katie Nicholl told ET that the monarch put his full support behind his daughter-in-law's choice to reveal her cancer diagnosis with the world.

"My understanding is that the king was really behind her doing that video message even though it was a bit of a breach of protocol, just a bit of a departure for the norm, because he recognizes how important that connection with the public is," Nicholl said. "He's also been on the receiving end of that support from the public, and that has [helped] him through a very difficult period."

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

RELATED CONTENT: 

King Charles III Steps Out With Queen Camilla for Easter Service

King Charles' Easter Sunday Plans 'Gentle Steps' Towards Public Return

Kate Middleton Spoke to King Charles Before Revealing Cancer Diagnosis

• Queen Elizabeth II
• King Charles III

Latest News

King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales

The King has also appointed Queen Camilla to be Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Royal correspondent @SkyRhiannon

Tuesday 23 April 2024 16:45, UK

The King has recognised the public service of his family in a new list of honours, including creating a new role for the Princess of Wales.

King Charles has thanked his "beloved" daughter-in-law, in a way that only royals can, by making her the Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour.

The palace say this is a new appointment to the Order.

Royal watchers will see it as a significant move by the King as it's the first time a member of the Royal Family has ever been appointed to the Companions of Honour.

It was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Public Service.

Kate's interest in the arts is evident as a patron of the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A Museum and the Royal Photographic Society.

Current members include Sir David Attenborough, Dame Judi Dench, and Sir Elton John, and previously Professor Stephen Hawking and Sir Winston Churchill.

More on Royal Family

Prince William surprises boy who wrote letter to him about mental health - and reveals Princess Charlotte's favourite 'dad joke'

Photo of Prince Louis taken by Kate released to mark his 6th birthday

Queen Camilla meets regiment - where her father served in World War Two - for first time as Colonel-in-Chief

Related Topics:

• Royal Family

The monarch has also appointed Queen Camilla to be Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. It was a role fulfilled in the past by Prince Philip.

The Order honours a broad cross-section of society, both military and civilian.

Meanwhile, Prince William has been presented with a title held by his father, until he became King in 2022, becoming Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The order was established by King George I in 1725 but is believed to date back as far as the eighth century, recognising members of the military or civil service for exemplary service.

The new appointments come at a time when the King has relied on his family for more support in his duties since his cancer diagnosis .

In new appointments to the Order of the Garter, which are traditionally announced on St George's Day, The Duchess of Gloucester has been made a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

She is joined by composer Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber who is made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, along with Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach, and Lord Kakkar, known for his services to healthcare.

The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain.

Each year, it is celebrated with a procession and service in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Related Topics