A visitor from the United States said she was moved to tears when she and her husband joined hundreds of residents on Front Street today to watch a military parade marking the official birthday of King Charles III.

The event, which was held under clear skies, featured the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the RBR’s Band and Corps of Drums, the Bermuda Police Service and Police Reserves, RBR Junior Leaders and the Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps.

David Burt, the Premier, joined Michael Branco, the Mayor of Hamilton, and heads of the uniformed services, accompanied by a police motorcade as they were driven to the flagpole.

At around 10.30am, police outriders rolled slowly down Front Street leading Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, on a horse-drawn carriage.

After inspecting the ranks, Mr Murdoch, the King’s representative on the island, led the cheers for the King which were followed by a rifle salute in honour of the occasion.

Attention then turned to Hamilton Harbour where the RBR ranks fired shells from two cannons.

The booming sounds from the cannons echoed across Front Street and the harbour as some onlookers covered their ears.

The shots were intertwined with rifle fire from the soldiers on parade who fired blank rounds into the air.

At around 11am, after the smoke of the cannons blew across the harbour, the Governor tipped his helmet to those in attendance, marking a close of the ceremony.

The King made his first visit to the island as sovereign arriving in April.

Deborah and Bill, a couple from Pennsylvania in the US, watched on as the uniformed ranks marched to the Cabinet Building, with the band behind playing military music, as the event drew to a close.

The couple said they had visited the island several times but it was their first time at the parade.

“We are enjoying it and we have been asking everybody what this means,” the woman said.

“The US is in such turmoil at the moment and a lot is going on back there, nothing seems respectful there any more.

“I was looking forward to something like this … I was honestly moved to tears by this because watching this event — it is so prestigious. It’s very beautiful.”

She said she was happy to take a break from life in the US and visit Bermuda.

Her husband said he too was looking forward to the trip.

“We wanted to see the King when he was here but we’ll see, maybe he will come again,” he said.

“It’s nice that this doesn’t seem political, so I’m impressed by that.”

The visitor said he was looking forward to the holiday weekend including events on National Heroes Day.

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