King Charles III has landed in Bermuda for his first visit to the island as monarch.

He arrived on an aircraft bearing the King’s cypher, the Union Jack and the words “United Kingdom”.

A red carpet was rolled out as the monarch prepared to disembark before being greeted by Andrew Murdoch, the Governor; David Burt, the Premier; Ben Smith, the Opposition leader; Larry Mussenden, the Chief Justice; and other dignitaries.

The King took the time to speak to each person in the line of dignitaries as a cadre of photographers looked on before getting into a car to be driven from LF Wade International Airport with a police escort.

Mr Burt said that he and his wife, Kristin, were honoured to welcome the King to the island on behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda.

He said: “When I last saw the King in London, we spoke about Bermuda and I invited him to visit, so it was a pleasure to welcome him here tonight and to thank him personally for accepting our invitation to visit our island.

“I have no doubt he will enjoy his time in Bermuda. During his time here, the King will meet Bermudians across the island and experience the people, culture, work and traditions that remain a part of our daily life.”

Mr Smith said that his brief talk with the King was a positive experience, with the monarch noting that the One Bermuda Alliance had picked up a few additional seats in the most recent election.

The Opposition leader responded that he was hoping to pick up a couple more.

He added: “It’s an honour to be a part of this. It’s not something that in Bermuda you get to have happen often, so to have him be here sends an important message to Bermuda specifically and also to the other territories.

“Having him come to Bermuda out of all of the territories is really quite exciting.”

The visit is the King’s first official trip to a British Overseas Territory since his coronation in 2023 and the first visit to the island ever by a reigning king.

The last visit by a monarch was a 2009 trip by Queen Elizabeth II as part of celebrations of the 400th anniversary of English settlement in Bermuda.

The King’s last official visit to the island was in 1970, when he read the Speech from the Throne. However, he has visited the island on two other occasions.

King Charles III is scheduled to tour the island on Friday, starting with a visit to the Town of St George, where he will be received in King’s Square by the Royal Bermuda Regiment and dignitaries before visiting St Peter’s Church.

He will then visit the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo and Trunk Island to learn more about local wildlife and conservation efforts while celebrating facility’s 100th anniversary.

The King will then travel to City Hall in Hamilton, where he will meet dignitaries and local artists before moving on to Albouy’s Point to travel on to Dockyard.

In Dockyard, the King will be greeted by Gombeys at the National Museum of Bermuda and tour the Queen’s Exhibition Hall.

He is also scheduled to meet Commonwealth Games athletes in advance of the Games in Glasgow this summer and members of various youth organisations.

On Saturday morning, the King will be taken to St David’s, where he will formally open the Great Bay coastguard station before venturing to Cooper’s Island, where he will learn about a new telescope project and how it will contribute to the mitigation of space debris before concluding his visit.