King Charles‘s Guyana visit began with an unexpected tasting moment as the monarch sampled a premium rum created in his honor. The King called the drink “very good” during a cultural evening hosted by Guyana’s President, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, marking the start of his two-day state visit.
King Charles begins his state visit to Guyana
Charles arrived in the South American country from the Bahamas, beginning the first leg of his nine-day Caribbean tour. According to a report by Express UK, before the evening’s entertainment, he held talks with President Ali. The reception then brought together guests with personal and professional connections to Guyana, including singer Eddy Grant and former UK justice secretary David Lammy, whose parents were from the country.
During the event, Charles was offered a glass of “Royal Welcome”, a limited-edition 2026 rum produced by food and beverage company Banks DIH. He first took a moment to smell the spirit before tasting it. The King pulled a surprised face, laughed, and declared it “very good”.
Before trying the drink, he also joked with nearby guests: “Do you drink this? Endless rum punches at the end of the day?” President Ali encouraged him to take another sip, saying, “You’ve just got to drink it down.” Charles followed the advice but soon passed the glass on. “That’s very kind. Somebody else will have to finish it!” he said.
Gregory Garraway, Banks DIH’s rum plant executive, revealed that the spirit was more than 20 years old. He explained that the company wanted the royal visit to offer the King a firsthand experience. Garraway described the rum as “extremely smooth, rich and flavourful” and said Charles loved it.
However, the visit carries significance beyond the celebrations. Guyana is marking 60 years of independence from Britain. Still, the occasion comes amid renewed calls from Caribbean nations for the UK to apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade and consider reparations.
Guyana’s President recently told “ITV News” that Charles had recognised slavery as one of humanity’s darkest periods. However, he added that an apology would be “the next step”.
During his earlier Bahamas visit, the King acknowledged the “great suffering of the past”. He also confirmed that Commonwealth leaders would discuss slavery’s legacy at their upcoming summit.
Charles’s Caribbean tour will conclude in Antigua and Barbuda, where he is due to open the Commonwealth leaders’ meeting as head of the organisation.
