King Charles is set to tour three Caribbean nations this autumn.

The King will first visit the Bahamas – one of 14 countries outside the United Kingdom where he is head of state – on 27 October.

From there, he will make a state visit to the South American country of Guyana to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic ties with the UK.

Guyana was once a British colony but achieved self-governing dominion status in 1966, before transitioning to a fully independent republic in 1970.

Charles and Queen Camilla will then travel to St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, where the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit will be held from 1 November.

The King is the head of the Commonwealth, a collection of 56 independent states which have historical ties to Britain.

Member nations range from significant economies such as Canada and India to small island states like Tuvalu in the South Pacific.

The countries’ leaders meet every two years to tackle common issues, reinforce partnerships and encourage development.

The King’s tour will conclude on 4 November.

Buckingham Palace said that the tour would “celebrate communities, cultures and nature within the Commonwealth family”.

Charles, then the Prince of Wales, visited Antigua and Barbuda in November 2017, following the widespread devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

It will be Camilla’s first official visit to Antigua and Barbuda.

Charles previously made official visits to Guyana in 2000 and the Bahamas in 1973.

He is making the state visit to Guyana at the invitation of the president and at the request of the UK government.

Charles and Camilla are currently on their summer break at Balmoral.

On Sunday, the couple, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, attended a service at a church near the estate.

Troops from Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, provided a guard of honour as the family members arrived at the tiny granite Crathie Kirk in Aberdeenshire.

The soldiers lined up on both sides of the leafy driveway leading up to the church, and the fleet of cars passed between them as they took their royal occupants up to the door.