King Charles pays emotional tribute to fallen troops on solemn second day of Caribbean tour

King Charles pays emotional tribute to fallen troops on solemn second day of Caribbean tour The King spent time in the bright heat in Coral Harbour in The Bahamas today, where he spent time with members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force on the second day of his Caribbean tour The King has paid his respects to the fallen and inspected troops in a solemn start to the second day of his Caribbean tour. Charles, wearing a set of medals and his sunglasses in the bright heat of Coral Harbour in the Bahamas, spent an hour with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), speaking to hundreds of service men, women and veterans. He laid a wreath at the ‘Flamingo Monument’, which commemorates the four Bahamian Marines who died in the sinking of HMBS Flamingo on 10th May 1980. A handwritten card, signed Charles R, carried the message "in everlasting remembrance". To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed. In his first of six engagements today, the King was received by Commander Defence Force, Commodore Floyd Moxey and other dignitaries, with lines of troops waiting in their distinctive white uniforms in the sun. Taking his place on a dais, the King took a Royal Salute from the Guard of Honour and Colour Party, formed by 106 Officers and Marines. The Band played a Royal Fanfare and the National Anthem of The Bahamas, before moving on to tunes including I Vow to Thee My Country and Abide With Me. The King viewed a plaque commemorating his visit, alongside Coronation Medals, which will be presented to Royal Bahamas Defence Force personnel at a future date. Proceeding to the ‘Flamingo Monument’, the King was told about the history of HMBS Flamingo, which sunk 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 56 metre ‘roll on/roll off’ vessel, which has a primary duty to respond to natural disasters. It is currently moored and was stationary when the King was on board with the ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Alexis Brown. The monarch 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 today, the King will sit down for talks with the prime minister and governor general of the Bahamas. Charles will hold an audience with the Caribbean nation’s premier Philip Davis and meet separately with Dame Cynthia Pratt, his official representative in the country. The head of state began a nine-day tour of the Caribbean yesterday by acknowledging the “great suffering of the past” and confirmed Commonwealth leaders will discuss the legacy of slavery at a major summit next week, which he will open. Speaking at an event celebrating Bahamas youth and staged where the country’s independence from the UK was declared, he said its culture was “born out of darkness”. His visit comes in the wake of renewed calls from Caribbean nations for Britain to apologise for its role in selling enslaved people for profit and for reparations. The King will end his day at a garden reception at Government House, where he will meet Bahamians who have made significant contributions to national life through voluntary, public, community and charitable service. Former prime ministers of the Bahamas will also be among the guests alongside members of the country’s cabinet.