After a long day on the road, the King could surely be forgiven for gratefully knocking back a shot of rum – or two.

So when, at the end of a reception thrown in his honour by the President of Guyana, Charles, 77, was given a bottle of specially blended Royal Welcome rum and invited to have a tipple, he didn't hold back.

'Do you drink this? Endless rum punches at the end of the day?' he asked onlookers with a knowing smile before sniffing the glass and clinking his with that of his host, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

He took a swig, waggled his eyebrows and pulled a slightly eye-watering expression before declaring: 'Very good!'

The president, clearly more accustomed to it, leaned over and told the monarch: 'You've just got to drink it down!'

'It won't last long,' grinned the King and took another big sip, before telling his hosts: 'That's very kind. Somebody else will have to finish it!'

The event took place in the garden of the State Residence, the home of the president in the capital, Georgetown.

King Charles has been invited on a two-day state visit by President Ali to celebrate 60 years of bilateral relations between the two nations.

The two have met six times already and the warmth of the relationship was clearly evident as the two men laughed and chatted all evening.

On arrival, the King and his host held bilateral talks in private before standing on the balcony of the house to pose for photographs while they admired the president's classic car collection, which had been put out on display.

They then stood for the national anthems of both countries before taking their seats for a colourful song and dance performance reflecting Guyanese culture involving dozens of performers in bright costumes.

He was particularly excited at a special performance featuring a collaboration between the National Piping Centre, of which he is patron, and local Guyanese drummers, tapping his fingers on his trousers.

Both the president and vice president of Guyana have seen them previously play at Dumfries House, the King's Scottish charity headquarters, and were so impressed that they decided to offer them the opportunity of a cultural exchange in the Caribbean.

Piper Finlay MacDonald, the centre's director who has previously played on many occasions for the King, said: 'It's been amazing for us as musicians. The best thing we can do is travel and learn about people's culture and music and share that. 

'We have travelled to seven of the states here and it has been incredible meeting and working with the musicians and sharing our music and culture with them. It's something we will remember forever. '

The King was also mobbed as he met guests including Guyanese changemakers, parliamentarians, sportsmen and women and Chevening and Commonwealth scholars.   

His Majesty arrived in Guyana on the official RAF government plane from The Bahamas for a whirlwind two-day state visit at the invitation of President Ali, who insisted on personally going to the airport to greet him.

While President Ali has been among the loudest voices in the region calling for formal British acknowledgement of, and compensation for, its role in the historic transatlantic slave trade, he also enjoys a warm personal relationship with the King.

The pair have bonded over Charles's lifelong passion for the environment.

Indeed, the monarch has worked extensively to help protect Guyana's huge virgin rainforest regions – and President Ali repaid the favour by appearing in the King's recent Harmony documentary to thank Charles for his work.

Although he has vociferously spoken out in only the last few days over the issue of reparations, it is understood that the president does not intend to publicly raise the issue during the visit and is keen for it to focus on 'the present and the future'.

Guyana is Britain's biggest trading partner in the Caribbean.

The Band of the Guyana Defence Force played the British and Guyanese National Anthems, before His Majesty inspected a Guard of Honour, formed of members of the Guyana Defence Force.

The King and President Ali clasped hands and talked for a few moments as soon as His Majesty got off the steps.

Aides said the two men had met six times before.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The King and both the President and Vice President do have a very warm relationship personally, going back many years.'

His Majesty arrived after two days in The Bahamas on the first leg of his Caribbean tour.

Yesterday he paid his respects to the fallen as he inspected the troops of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF). 

Charles, wearing a set of medals with the Order of Merit neck order – and, of course, his sunglasses – in the bright heat of Coral Harbour on the island of New Providence, spent an hour with the RBDF, speaking to hundreds of servicemen, women and veterans.

He laid a wreath at the 'Flamingo Monument', which commemorates the four Bahamian Marines who died in the sinking of His Majesty Bahamian Ship (HMBS) Flamingo on May 10, 1980.

A handwritten card, signed Charles R, carried the message 'in everlasting remembrance'.

The King was told about the history of HMBS Flamingo, which sank when it was attacked by Cuban MiG fighter aircraft, killing Marines Fenrick Sturrup, Austin Smith, David Tucker and Edward Williams.

The King met family members of each of the fallen Marines, and surviving crew member Force Chief Petty Officer Gregory Curry.

He then stepped onto HMBS Lawrence Major, a 56m 'roll on/roll off' vessel whose primary duty is response to natural disasters.

It is currently moored, and stationary when the King was on board with the ship's Commanding Officer, Commander Alexis Brown.

On board, he spoke to dozens of service and retired service men and women, asking them about their roles and length of service.

Among them were the Ship's Company, Disaster Risk Management Unit, retired members of the Defence Force, RBDF Rangers Youth Programme, Bahamas National Youth Guards, RBDF veterans, Officers, Warrant Officers, Senior Rates and Marines.

When he stopped to meet the Youth Guards, he asked about their backgrounds and told proud teenagers that they must be 'very highly trained'. Later in the day, the King spent time viewing conservation projects at Bonefish Pond National Park, highlighting the urgent need for environmental restoration and climate-resilience projects in areas such as the Bahamas which are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

He then undertook the first of two tree plantings of the day, before heading off to The Bahamas Boxing Academy which is helping offer opportunities for local youngsters through sport.

The King laughed as he was presented with a T-shirt featuring a muscular rendition of himself wearing boxing shorts, gloves and a crown.

Charles, joined by Prime Minister Philip Davis and minister for sports, Mario Bowleg, visited the Bahamas Boxing Academy in the Yellow Elder district of New Providence.

It opened in April 2026 on the Queen Elizabeth sporting complex to provide young Bahamians with opportunities through sport, mentoring and education.

Davis has championed the academy and described boxing as being deeply rooted in the 'Bahamian D.N.A.'.

Charles watched a youth boxing session in the training area and met young athletes and their trainers by the boxing bags, including Sanai Miller, 12, and her coach, Jermaine Gibson, members of the All Out Boxing Club who train at the academy.