Dancing King! Charles gets in the carnival spirit during Bahamas visit and enjoys a celebratory Junkanoo street parade

A joyful King Charles danced and played a pair of Bahamian hand bells as he threw himself - quite literally - into the carnival spirit. 

On his first full day of engagements in the Caribbean, the monarch put the bubbling issue of slavery and reparations firmly to one side as he watched a 'Junkanoo' parade, a boisterous mass of energetic dancers wearing lavish and brightly-coloured costumes who took over Nassau's main thoroughfare.

While His Majesty had been expected to just view the spectacle as guest of honour alongside the country's Prime Minister, Philip Davis, such was the infectious nature of the performance that Charles couldn't resist joining in.

First he started tapping his feet then, handed the musical instruments, began moving to the beat before suddenly - with what looked like a cheeky backwards glance towards his police protection officers - heading off, laughing, into the throng.

His joy was infectious and certainly belied the fact that at 77 years old, the King is still pursuing a punishing work schedule and undergoing continuing cancer treatment.

Junkanoo has historical roots among what were enslaved people and is now a source of great cultural pride and competition in the Bahamas, so it was natural that the country's head of state would be afforded the honour of his own parade.

Charles had earlier been welcomed by the Prime Minister at the House of Assembly on Parliament Square - his second major meet and greet of the tour - and spoke to Bahamian students involved with his King's Foundation building programmes before enjoying the celebratory street parade. 

David Brown of Brown's Restaurant offered the King local delicacy crab and rice. He said: 'He said he hoped I had enough to go around.'

A joyful King Charles danced and played a pair of Bahamian hand bells as he threw himself - quite literally - into the carnival spirit 

The monarch was treated to a celebratory Junkanoo street parade in Parliament Square on his first full day of engagements in the Bahamas

Such was the infectious nature of the performance that Charles couldn't resist joining in 

The parade was a boisterous mass of energetic dancers wearing lavish and brightly-coloured costumes who took over Nassau's main thoroughfare

The King also stopped off to talk to Marv Cunningham, owner of Mr Mix Bahamas, about his gin-based cocktails.

Chuckling Charles told him 'save one of those for me later, I could do with one.'

Mr Cunningham showed him the cocktail made from coconut water, condensed milk, London Dry Gin and a dash of nutmeg, telling the king it was the 'perfect drink for the heat, but you have to have it shaken, not stirred - just like James Bond!'

The King then enjoyed an impromptu walkabout, shaking hands with locals who came out to greet him in Parliament Square.

Just four reparations protestors had gathered along the parade route, although they were later asked to leave by local police.

Members of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, they carried hand-made signs reading 'Pay us what you owe us', 'Run us our money' and 'BRIT: Belongers, Receivers, Investors, Traders of Slavery.'

Noelle Nicholls, chair of the committee, said: 'At the National Reparations Committee we want to make sure that both the Bahamian government and King Charles, as the head of state of the Bahamas, understands that we have not forgotten that he represents a crown that was responsible for one of the gravest crimes against humanity.

'And so we're here to say that you may be on the Bahamian territory as our head of state, but you are still a symbol of that atrocity that was perpetuated against our ancestors.

'We are demanding an apology for those crimes, and reparations for the harm that was done. 

'So we think it's important to be present, so that amidst the pomp and pageantry of the celebrations, which are for some people a celebration, are for us also a sombre occasion. 

'Because this is the King returning in a way that has still not atoned for the sins of the past.'

King Charles smiled at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Coral Harbour Base during his visit to the Bahamas on Wednesday

The monarch wore a set of medals with the Order of Merit neck order as he met dignitaries

The King received a Royal Salute from the Guard of Honour and Colour Party, formed by 106 Officers and Marines

The King received a Royal Salute from the Guard of Honour and Colour Party, formed by 106 Officers and Marines

King Charles with Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Commodore Floyd Moxey

Charles spoke with hundreds of service men, women and veterans at the base

The King is currently on a nine-day visit to the Caribbean at the request of the British government taking in the Bahamas, Guyana and finally Antigua and Barbuda

Lines of troops waited to greet the British monarch in their distinctive white uniforms 

When asked about the palace view that Charles cannot apologise for the UK's historic role in the transatlantic slave trade because it is a matter for government, Dr Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, a campaigner, said: 'He is a part of our government too, he's the head of it. The King of the Netherlands has apologised.

'And so we think that the King has the power and the authority to make a statement as our head of state or, you know, in his position as the head of the legacy of this family.'

Charles also met Bahamian students involved with The King's Foundation Building Craft Programme for The Bahamas.

Developed by the Lyford Cay Foundations, a Bahamian education charity, it focuses on preserving and developing traditional skills such as carpentry, stonemasonry, blacksmithing, shingle roofing and lime plastering.

Earlier in the day he had paid his respects to the fallen as he inspected the troops of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in a solemn start to the second day of his tour.

Charles, wearing a set of medals with the Order of Merit neck order - and, of course, his sunglasses - in the bright heat of Coral Harbour on the island of New Providence, spent an hour with the RBDF, speaking to hundreds of service men, women and veterans.

He laid a wreath at the 'Flamingo Monument', which commemorates the four Bahamian Marines who died in the sinking of HMBS Flamingo on 10th May 1980. 

A handwritten card, signed Charles R, carried the message 'in everlasting remembrance'.

The King was received by Commander Defence Force, Commodore Floyd Moxey and other dignitaries, with lines of troops waiting in their distinctive white uniforms in the sun.

Taking his place on a dais, the King took a Royal Salute from the Guard of Honour and Colour Party, formed by 106 Officers and Marines. 

The Band played a Royal Fanfare and the National Anthem of The Bahamas, before moving on to tunes including I Vow to Thee My Country and Abide With Me.

The King also viewed a plaque commemorating his visit, alongside Coronation Medals, which will be presented to Royal Bahamas Defence Force personnel at a future date.

Proceeding to the 'Flamingo Monument', the King was told about the history of HMBS Flamingo, which sunk when it was attacked by Cuban MiG fighter aircraft, killing Marines Fenrick Sturrup, Austin Smith, David Tucker and Edward Williams.

Jermaine Gibson met the King and wore a black T-shirt emblazoned with an image of the monarch in a 'gloves up' stance, wearing purple boxing shorts, a boxing vest and a crown

Mr Gibson (right) pictured with 12-year-old Sanai Miller, who he coaches, wearing the specially-designed T-shirts to mark King Charles' visit

Charles was presented with his very own T-shirt bearing the unique design

The monarch watched the young boxers in action during his visit to The Bahamas Boxing Academy in Nassau

The King met family members of each of the fallen Marines, and surviving crew member Force Chief Petty Officer Gregory Curry.

He then stepped onto HMBS Lawrence Major, a 56 metre 'roll on/roll off' vessel whose primary duty is response to natural disasters, where he spoke to dozens of service and retired service men and women asking them about their roles and length of service.

His schedule also featured a visit to conservation projects at Bonefish Pond National Park, highlighting the urgent need for environmental restoration and climate-resilience projects, as well as a visit to The Bahamas Boxing Academy which is helping offer opportunities for local youngsters through sport.

The King laughed as he was presented with a T-shirt featuring a muscular rendition of himself wearing boxing shorts, gloves and a crown.

Charles watched a youth boxing session in the training area and met young athletes and their trainers by the boxing bags, including Sanai Miller, 12 and his coach, Jermaine Gibson, members of the All Out Boxing Club who train at the academy.

Both wore the black t-shirts emblazoned with an image of the monarch, in a 'gloves up' stance, wearing purple boxing shorts, a boxing vest and a crown. 

'Ha!' said Charles, pointing and laughing at the shirts. 'We made one for you, I had it made last night,' Jermaine told him. 

Accepting the gift, Charles, still laughing, replied: 'How generous.' Afterwards, Gibson said: 'We gave him one of his own, he said it was really good.'

The King also met Bahamas boxing champions, Steve Larrimore, who competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and won Commonwealth and Central American and Caribbean Games bronze medals in 1982, and Jermaine 'Chu Chu' Mackey, whose accolades include the Bahamian supermiddleweight title, WBA and WBC Caribbean champion and a Commonwealth title.

His day concluded with a garden reception at Government House where the King met Bahamians who have made significant contributions to the nation.

King Charles was all smiles as he was welcomed to Government House in Nassau

Charles was pictured with Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, and his wife, First Lady Ann Marie Davis

King Charles III poses with dignitaries at an audience at Government House, Nassau

The King was all smiles as he listened to a welcome speech by Governor-General Dame Cynthia Pratt at a garden party in Parliament Square

Charles viewed a plaque commemorating his visit with Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Commodore Floyd Moxey

Charles laid a wreath at the Flamingo Monument in tribute to the four Bahamian Marines who lost their lives in the sinking of HMBS Flamingo on 10th May 1980 after being attacked by a Cuban MiG fighter

King Charles met members of the RBDF Rangers Youth Programme onboard HMBS Lawrence Major at Coral Harbour Base

A close-up of the medals worn by King Charles. Pictured left to right:  Queen's Service medal (New Zealand), Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal, Golden Jubilee Medal, Diamond Jubilee Medal, Platinum Jubilee Medal, Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Canadian Forces Decoration,  New Zealand Commemorative Medal and New Zealand Armed Forces Award

King Charles was escorted towards the 'Flamingo Monument'. Pictured: The King with Commodore Floyd Moxey

Members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force lined up ahead of the arrival of King Charles at Coral Harbour Base

HMBS Flamingo sunk when it was attacked by a Cuban MiG fighter aircraft

The King met family members of each of the fallen Marines, and surviving crew member Force Chief Petty Officer Gregory Curry

Charles walks along a wooden boardwalk through the mangrove ecosystem at Bonefish Pond National Park in New Providence, the Bahamas

The King saw first-hand the restoration of the Bonefish Pond National Park's unique wetland ecosystem

Bonefish Pond contains mangrove forest, tidal creeks, and seagrass habitat, which are home to fish and shorebirds

King Charles is currently on a nine-day visit to the Caribbean at the request of the British government taking in the Bahamas, Guyana and finally Antigua and Barbuda, where he will be joined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The trip is, however, being dogged by calls from local campaigners for a formal apology from the British government over the country's role in the historic transatlantic slave trade and reparations.

The King, who acts on the advice of his ministers, addressed the thorny issue within hours of landing on Tuesday night saying: 'It is only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering of the past, in these islands and beyond.'

Although he stopped short of offering an apology or financial compensation in line with government policy, aides say His Majesty will 'not shy away' from addressing the growing clamour that threatens to overshadow his visit to the Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda this week.

A spokesman for the King made clear he would face 'the most shameful aspects of our past'.

Whether it will be enough remains to be seen, with the Bahamas National Reparations Committee having already warned him: 'Don't come empty-handed.'

Buckingham Palace insists that His Majesty is 'alive' to the local strength of feeling, particularly given his role both as Head of the Commonwealth and as monarch in two of the countries he is visiting, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda, where calls for action by the UK have been growing. 'His Majesty will as usual not seek to ignore the past,' an aide said.

As a result, he will tackle the 'backdrop of wider discussions on colonial legacy' head-on in a number of his speeches, as well as visiting sites with historic links to slavery.

But he will continue to be mindful of the British government's firm line on the matter which, while acknowledging the 'abhorrence' of the historic transatlantic slave trade and its legacy that endures today, firmly rejects demands for compensation as it was not illegal at the time.

Any official apology from the King could be seen as opening the floodgates to billions in claims against the UK.