King Charles and Queen Camilla Sample Local Flavors and Meet Artisans During Antigua Visit

King Charles and Queen Camilla had a refreshing outing in St. John’s, taking them closer to nature.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are on the last leg of their Autumn Tour 2026 to the Caribbean, and it’s been very eventful. From celebrating Antigua and Barbuda’s 45th Independence Day with a special church service and braving the rain to enjoy the cultural parade to enjoying a fun cricket match and visiting a local museum to learn more about the history of slavery, the King and Queen’s schedule has been visibly packed. Thankfully, they were able to take a light break and bask in the beauty of nature during their latest appearance at the Agave Gardens.

This drought-resistant garden and seed bank in St. John’s is extra special because it is home to the Antigua and Barbuda Horticultural Society. According to reports, the coveted gardens focus heavily on local craftsmanship and environmental sustainability. Charles and Camilla witnessed this firsthand, taking time to speak with Society member Jackie Ferracho Williams to learn more. Afterward, the King and Queen toured a vibrant array of local shops beautifully set up at Agave Gardens, which showcased locally produced goods ranging from handcrafted accessories and delicate wearables to unique artifacts, showpieces, and consumables.

The royal couple browsed the stalls, conversing with local vendors to learn about their products and crafting processes. They also spoke with seedworkers, basket weavers, and coconut leaf weavers from the Workshop for the Blind. Taking a hands-on approach, the Queen even joined schoolchildren from the Little Seeds Club to plant agave seedlings in the soil. After taking in all that the Gardens had to offer, the King and Queen sampled some unique local flavors, participating in a refreshing tasting session of custom-crafted drinks alongside a taste of Agave tea.

Meanwhile, while touring the garden's produce, Charles also tasted some fresh lemongrass. This visit offered a welcome change of pace for the royal couple, allowing them to appreciate the natural beauty, heritage, and rich cultural practices of Antigua and Barbuda. They clearly enjoyed embracing the uniqueness, warmth, hospitality, creativity, and kindness of the Antiguans and Barbudans. This engagement comes ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a special occasion bringing leaders from across the Commonwealth together to discuss shared priorities, historic milestones, and the future of the organization as a whole.