King Charles III joins Junkanoo parade and dances with locals in the Bahamas
Britain's King Charles III danced with participants at a traditional Junkanoo street parade in Nassau, the Bahamian capital, on Wednesday. It is his first Caribbean tour since becoming monarch.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom took part in a colourful Junkanoo street parade in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, on Wednesday 28 October, dancing to the rhythm of the traditional festival. The visit is part of his first Caribbean tour since he became monarch. The Bahamas is a Caribbean country that remains a Commonwealth realm with Charles III as its head of state.
The parade and meeting the public
After dancing, the king watched performers and decorated floats move through the streets. Footage shows him dancing during the parade, an unusually informal moment in an official royal visit.
Following the parade, he walked through Nassau's Parliament Square, stopping at market stalls to meet local vendors and look at handmade goods, including woven raffia baskets. The king also greeted members of the public who had gathered to see him.
Junkanoo tradition and constitutional ties
Junkanoo is a longstanding Bahamian tradition marked by elaborate costumes, music, dancing and street processions. The Bahamas gained independence from Britain in 1973 but continues to be a Commonwealth realm, with Charles III as head of state.
His visit brings together the country's cultural heritage and its continuing constitutional ties to the British monarchy.
