King Charles to visit Caribbean countries for CHOGM

King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will carry out a week-long tour of Caribbean countries later this year, visiting Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas and Guyana, Buckingham Palace says.

The main reason for the trip will be for the royals to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which is being held in Antigua and Barbuda from November 1-4 this year.

Charles is the symbolic head of the Commonwealth - an association of 56 independent countries, many of which have historic ties to the United Kingdom.

Its members include major economic powers such as Australia, Canada and India, as well as small island countries like Tuvalu in the South Pacific.

The Commonwealth heads of government meet every two years to discuss shared challenges, strengthen co-operation and look for ways to promote development.

Prior to the CHOGM meeting, Charles will travel to the Bahamas, another country where he is the head of state, and will also pay a state visit to Guyana.

Guyana, a former British colony, became a self-governing dominion in 1966 and a fully independent republic in 1970.