King Charles declared ‘the force is with us’ as he gave the royal seal of approval to a new world-leading observatory in Bermuda before flying home after a triumphant transatlantic trip.
Charles was treated to a tour of the site, operated by the UK Space Agency, before it opens later this year and heard about its ambitious plans to tackle harmful space junk.
The area on the island was identified for its unique position in the world, which will allow the agency and its partners to track old satellites, rocket stages, and other objects.
Charles also spent his final day in Bermuda opening the new Great Bay Coast Guard Station and learnt about work to protect the country’s territorial waters.
Charles arrived at LF Wade International Airport on Saturday and a guard of honour formed by the Royal Bermuda Regiment was waiting for him at the bottom of the plane’s steps.
Also waiting was a small group of dignitaries, including David Burt, the premier of Bermuda.
Just as he approached the plane, Charles made a detour and joined assembled police motorbike outriders, security personnel and other officers for a large group photo.
Their British equivalents protecting the King had organised the gesture and, wearing sunglasses, the King posed and chatted briefly with them.
After climbing the steps, Charles turned and waved as his triumphant tour ended.
King Charles boards a plane at LF Wade International Airport in Bermuda on Saturday
Charles presents an Operational Service Medal to a member of the Coast Guard at the Great Bay Coast Guard Station in Bermuda
After climbing the steps, Charles turned and waved as his triumphant tour ended
President Donald J Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are joined by King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the Oval Office on April 28
The King, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, flew to Bermuda on Thursday from Washington where he met with President Trump and First Lady Melania.
Royal aides were said to be grinning like Cheshire Cats at the perceived ‘triumph’ of the visit, which saw the US president hail Charles as ‘the greatest King’.
Trump also later revealed on Truth Social that he was removing whisky tariffs in King Charles and Queen Camilla’s honour.
He said that while ‘people have wanted to do this for a long time’, the King and Queen ‘got me to do something that nobody else was able to do’.
The Scottish and UK governments had been lobbying the Republican to end tariffs on the industry, as the US is the single biggest market for Scotland’s whisky.
One royal insider told the Daily Mail: ‘Both the President and First Lady couldn’t have been more lovely and hospitable.
‘Really they were. It’s been a wonderful visit.’
King Charles departs LF Wade International Airport marking the end of his visit to Bermuda
Charles unveils a plaque to officially open the Great Bay Coast Guard Station
Charles during a visit to the new UK Space Agency (UKSA) observatory on Cooper’s Island
On Friday evening, the King attended a garden party at Bermuda’s Government House.
He said to guests: ‘I am told to my amazement it is also the first time in Bermuda’s 400-year history that the islands have received a reigning King.
‘I am terribly sorry it has taken so long!’
Charles walked down a short length of red carpet to talk to the leading figures from Bermudan life.
This included the commissioner of police, Darrin Simons and the leader of the opposition, Ben Smith.
The King’s last official visit to Bermuda came in 1970 when he delivered a speech at the 350th opening of the island’s parliament.
On Friday he undertook eight public engagements and was without his wife, Queen Camilla, who flew back to the UK on a commercial flight as part of a long-standing arrangement.
This included a special boat trip with the Bermuda Coast Guard that saw huge crowds come to greet him.
The monarch boarded a Fast Inshore Patrol Boat and ripped through the bay at up to 50mph.
King Charles III greets members of the Coast Guard at the newly opened Great Bay Coast Guard Station in St David’s
Members of Bermuda’s Coast Guard patrol the area as King Charles III visits the Great Bay Coast Guard Station
King Charles arrives for the launch of the UK Space Agency’s ‘Project Nova’ at the site of a new UK Space Agency observatory
He was given a briefing by the Coast Guard Commanding Officer, Major Jeffrey Patterson, who explained about the group’s work protecting life at sea and tackling illegal fishing and smuggling.
The Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard was established in 2020 and has already become an internationally recognised force with elite training from UK and US Coast Guard.
Charles greeted Bermudians as he boarded the speedboat at the dockyard, with one man holding a glass of rose from his boat replying: ‘God save the King’.
The King, alongside his protection officers and senior staff, donned a protective life jacket and waved to two more boats of Royal fans waving Bermudan and Union flags.