King Charles arrives in Bermuda after successful US state visit

Good morning and welcome to another busy day of royal news. We'll be keeping you up to speed with all the latest updates from royal households across the globe. 

So what's on today's agenda? 

King Charles arrived in Bermuda on Thursday evening following his successful US state visit with Queen Camilla. 

The monarch is expected to receive a ceremonial welcome of pomp and pageantry featuring a 21-gun salute today.

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Following a successful state visit to the United States, the King has arrived in Bermuda to begin a three-day solo tour.

The visit follows a warm departure from Washington, where Charles and Camilla were seen off by President Donald Trump. The arrival was marked by a positive diplomatic note, as the King landed shortly after the President announced the removal of tariffs on Scottish whisky — a gesture the Palace noted would be toasted with a traditional dram.

The royal aircraft, flying both the Royal Standard and the flag of Bermuda, touched down at LF Wade International Airport at dusk. The King was met on the tarmac by Governor Andrew Murdoch alongside Premier David Burt and his wife, Kristin, while a Guard of Honour from the Royal Bermuda Regiment stood in welcome.

While the initial arrival remained understated, the formal visit begins in earnest on Friday with a ceremonial welcome featuring full military honors and a 21-gun salute. Noticing the familiar faces of the British press corps as he departed the airport, the King shared a brief, lighthearted moment with the group before heading to his first engagement.

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Meghan Markle has offered fans a fresh insight into life with her four-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, while tending to their flock of chickens. 

The mother of two sported a black tank top and black pants as she walked around the chicken coop with Jonathan Grahm, a chocolatier from Compartes, while Lilibet played in the background. "When the chocolate man comes to see the chickens!" Meghan said as she panned to Jonathan walking beside her. 

Her daughter sounded so grown up as she called out: "Mum, I got another gray one!", referring to the eggs she was collecting, and Meghan warmly replied: "Thanks, sweetheart!" Lilibet wore a poofy pink dress for the occasion and watched on as the chickens ate directly from Jonathan's hands. 

You can watch the full video

© Chris Jackson / Getty Images

We love a royal portrait moment - and how special is this new image issued by King Charles and Queen Camilla to celebrate their successful US state visit.

The photo, which shows the royal couple looking lovingly at one another, was taken in the Jackson Palace sitting room of Blair House, the President's official guest house opposite the White House, where they stayed during the visit.

In a message posted on social media, they penned: "Farewell and thank you for the warmth of your welcome and the kind support you gave us throughout our first visit to the US as King and Queen, in this, your special anniversary year. 

"We leave a piece of our [heart emoji] behind and take a little of yours back home with us. Until the next time… God Bless America."

© Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Princess Beatrice made a rare public appearance this week to celebrate the upcoming arrival of her close friend and stylist's first child. The royal attended an intimate baby shower for Olivia Buckingham at her London residence. 

Olivia, who has been credited for transforming Beatrice into a royal style icon, announced her pregnancy in February at age 43 — a milestone previously celebrated on social media by Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

The mother-to-be shared highlights of the gathering on Instagram, posting a series of photos from the event. The carefully curated guest list featured her close friends, including Poppy Delevingne and Nicky Hilton, who gathered to toast Olivia's new chapter.

Beatrice has been lying low amid her parents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson's string of scandals. 

The Swedish Royal Court has shared an update regarding King Carl Gustaf XVI 's special 80th birthday celebrations. The caption read: "H.M. The King surrounded by the Royal Family, the Nordic heads of state, and other guests of honor during the King’s 80th birthday celebrations at the Royal Palace this evening."

📷: Clément Morin (image 1) and Linda Broström (image 2), The Royal Court

King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia of Sweden hosted international royals, including Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary, at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, enjoying a banquet in the spectacular Rikssalen room.

For all the best photos, check out our gallery of the best moments from the birthday celebrations. 

King Charles and Queen Camilla shared a remarkably rare public moment of affection as they concluded their state visit to the US on Thursday.

The couple, who recently marked their 21st wedding anniversary, exchanged a brief kiss before departing from a vibrant street party in Virginia. The event, held to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, provided a festive backdrop of cheering crowds and waving Union Jacks.

The subtle gesture was captured on a livestream by ITV’s Royal Family Channel just as the couple prepared to go their separate ways. While the Queen has returned to the UK, the King has landed in Bermuda to begin a solo tour.

Watch the moment in question: 

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

'I underestimated what the King would achieve on his US trip - and this final chapter was incredible to observe' - Emily Nash

At the start of this week, I predicted that, despite all the doom and gloom in the build-up to this visit, it would in fact run like clockwork. In fact, I think that was an underestimation.

Instead, we have seen a masterclass in soft diplomacy - one that will likely serve as a blueprint for years to come. It has also proved a valuable reminder to critics of the immense value of our royal family on the world stage. 

Click to read the rest of our Royal Editor's analysis of the final day of the King and Queen's historic royal event and find out why this grand finale almost never happened. 

We'll be sharing stunning behind-the-scenes pictures and videos over the weekend of this unforgettable royal triumph exclusively with our VIP community and of course, on Monday, our stunning magazine - a collectors edition with all the photographs and memories for you to treasure, will be live in our VIP hub before it even hits the shelves in the UK. Don't miss out!

Now here is a reason to celebrate! King Charles is set to raise a celebratory dram after Donald Trump announced he is removing tariffs on Scottish whisky - a move the monarch has warmly welcomed.

Buckingham Palace released a rare statement of "sincere gratitude" following the President's unexpected decision, which came right at the end of the King and Queen’s high-profile state visit to the US. The King described it as a "meaningful boost" for the industry and the thousands of livelihoods it supports back home.

To see the pictures, click on our story.

The royal celebrations continue today as we wish a very happy birthday to the late Queen’s niece, Lady Sarah Chatto, who turns 62 today!

Often described as the royal family's "best-kept secret," Sarah has always been one of the most low-key members of the Firm. 

As the only daughter of Princess Margaret, she shared an incredibly close bond with her aunt, Queen Elizabeth II, and remains a very dear confidante to King Charles.

To see the pictures and find out everything you need to know about Lady Sarah, click on our story.

Stop everything - we have a new royal name to obsess over, and it's adorable! To celebrate a very special first birthday today, Prince William and Kate have officially introduced us to their second dog. Drumroll, please... meet Otto!

The Prince and Princess shared a brand new photo of the chocolate-coloured cocker spaniel looking straight at the camera. "Welcome to the family, Otto! 1 today," they captioned the sweet snap.

It's definitely a week of celebrations! Now that we've finally met the adorable Otto (who we suspect will be getting lots of birthday treats today!), our attention is turning to the next big milestone in the Wales household. This Saturday, Princess Charlotte is celebrating her 11th birthday. It's hard to believe the Princess is already nearly a teenager! 

While the Wales family usually celebrates privately at home (with the Princess of Wales famously staying up late to bake the birthday cake!), we are all crossing our fingers for a traditional birthday photo release.

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Following the King and Queen’s successful four-day visit to Washington D.C., President Donald Trump was generous with his praise for the British Royal Family.

As the King, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, concluded their stay, which featured a state banquet and an address to Congress, the President shared his high regard for the monarch, publicly describing Charles as "the greatest King." However, there's another royal he is just as fond of.

According to a report in the Daily Mail by Robert Hardman, the President spoke warmly of the Prince and Princess of Wales during private conversations. He spoke highly of Prince William's character, predicting he would one day be a "good King" and describing him as a "great guy."

The President was equally complimentary of Princess Kate, 44, referring to her as "perfect" and inquiring after her wellbeing. Reflecting on her recent health journey, he praised her bravery in the face of public scrutiny during her cancer recovery, remarking on her strength throughout the ordeal.

If you've enjoyed our coverage of the historic US state visit, be sure to sign up to our FREE newsletter - we'll be sharing exclusive photos, videos and memories of the event from our royal editor Emily Nash and our US Royal News Correspondent Alex Hurtado this weekend. Don't miss out!

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Ahead of Met Gala Monday, we're taking a trip down memory lane. The Met Gala, overseen by Vogue's Anna Wintour, transforms the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York into a global stage where A-list celebrities and elite designers debut their most ambitious sartorial visions.

While the red carpet is synonymous with Hollywood icons, the event has also hosted rare and memorable appearances by the British royal family.

Making a surprise appearance for the 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination' theme in 2018, Princess Beatrice chose a striking, ethereal gown by Alberta Ferretti.

From Princess Diana to Charlotte Casiraghi, check out all the best photos from over the year. 

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How special is this photograph of Princess Anne at Jersey Zoo? The Princess Royal enjoyed feeding the animals during her visit, which included opening a new state-of-the-art gorilla house.

Jersey Zoo said Princess Anne had been patron of Durrell Wildlife Trust for more than 50 years.

Rebecca Brewer, chief executive officer at the trust, explained: "This new house represents a major step forward in how we care for endangered species. It was a privilege to welcome our patron, HRH The Princess Royal, to open this important new facility, and we are incredibly grateful for her continued support."

That is it from Kate, who is signing off after a very busy morning of royal firsts and adorable puppy reveals! I'll be taking over the reins for the rest of the afternoon to keep you updated on all things royal.

The news of Otto's first birthday has officially warmed the hearts of royal fans everywhere - but nobody is more proud than James Middleton! The Princess of Wales' younger brother took to social media to share a sweet tribute to the royal pup, and in doing so, he reminded us of the incredible family tree behind the Wales's four-legged friends.

James noted that Otto is actually a very special "great-grandson". He is a descendant of James' beloved late dog Ella, the spaniel he famously credits with saving his life during his battle with depression. James wrote: "Happy Birthday Otto."

Fresh from his whirlwind tour of the United States, King Charles has touched down in beautiful Bermuda for a truly landmark occasion! Today, the King was greeted with a magnificent ceremonial welcome at King's Square in St. George's. 

Looking relaxed despite his busy schedule, His Majesty inspected a Guard of Honour from the Royal Bermuda Regiment (RBR) and was treated to a spectacular 21-gun salute that echoed across the historic square.

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The atmosphere in St George's was electric as King Charles stood in the heart of the historic former capital, greeted by the cheers of hundreds of local school children and islanders who had gathered to witness this momentous royal first.

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It was a solemn moment that took an unexpected turn! While paying their respects at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday, Queen Camilla had to deal with a very uninvited guest - a stray bee!

As the King and Queen stood for a silent tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a bee began circling the Queen's face. Showing her protective side, Camilla was forced to break her official salute to swat the insect away.

It was a rare break in composure during an otherwise deeply moving ceremony, but hey - dealing with nature is all part of being a royal on the move! Watch the clip here.

It's official - the Prince and Princess of Wales are the nation's favourite royals! A new documentary, The Royal Popularity List, reveals that William and Catherine have been voted into the top two spots by the public.

Viewers described the pair as "warm and hardworking," with the Princess Royal taking a solid third place and King Charles coming in fourth. The Royal Popularity List airs on Channel 5 at 9pm this Saturday.

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

The "40 club" is getting a new member this weekend! Jack Brooksbank is celebrating his 40th birthday this Sunday, and we're sure Princess Eugenie has something wonderful planned for her husband. 

To see our favourite photos of Jack and Eugenie from their 2018 wedding, click on our story. 

Now that the US leg of the State Visit is officially wrapped, we're looking back at a few "oops" moments that had royal watchers talking! While the trip was a huge success, there were definitely some unexpected hiccups along the way.

To see all the photos and the full list of tour gaffes, click on our story.

Hi everyone 👋  We made it to Friday (yay!). With the state visit now behind us, Best Quality Designer Handbag 's Royal Editor Emily Nash and I chatted about some of our top moments this week. VIP members can watch our candid conversation here — and if you're not already part of the community, you can subscribe here! 

The day after the King and Queen's visit to the United States wrapped, President Donald Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House that they "had a good time."

Asked if Charles changed his mind about NATO, the President said, via the White House pool: "No, no, no, the King and I had a great – he's just a great person. He's a high quality person. I love the job he did in Congress. He actually got the Democrats to stand. He's a wonderful person, she's a wonderful lady, a wonderful queen, and we had a good time."

King Charles went for a ride on the Coast Guard’s console boat during a Coast Guard briefing on May 1 in Bermuda. His Majesty, wearing shades, sported a lifejacket as he sat down, with his security and equerry Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson holding on behind him.

© Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Following their successful trip to the United States, King Charles continued on to Bermuda sans his wife Queen Camilla. However, Her Majesty was spotted at an airport with security ahead of a commercial flight on Thursday. Click here for the possible reason why the Queen skipped Bermuda. 

Princess Beatrice was spotted out in London! The daughter of the disgraced former Duke of York was seen loading luggage into a taxi. For more on the royal's appearance, read Best Quality Designer Handbag 's story here.

Thank you all for following along this week! Hope you have a great weekend!