{"id":159617,"date":"2022-09-19T07:24:36","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T11:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=159617"},"modified":"2022-09-19T07:27:56","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T11:27:56","slug":"awkward-charles-iii-meets-antigua-and-barbudas-pm-days-after-he-vowed-to-hold-referendum-to-remove-him-as-head-of-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/awkward-charles-iii-meets-antigua-and-barbudas-pm-days-after-he-vowed-to-hold-referendum-to-remove-him-as-head-of-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Awkward? Charles III meets Antigua and Barbuda’s PM days after he vowed to hold referendum to remove him as Head of State"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DAILY MAIL:<\/p>

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King Charles III<\/a>\u00a0met the rebellious Prime Minister of\u00a0Antigua and Barbuda at\u00a0Buckingham Palace<\/a>\u00a0today just days after he threatened to hold a republican referendum to ditch The Crown and remove Britain’s monarch as the Commonwealth country’s head of state – ahead of\u00a0the ‘reception of the century’ for 1,000 VIPs including world leaders and foreign royals tonight.<\/p>\n

The new sovereign smiled and waved at well-wishers who cheered him as he was driven through the palace gates in the state Rolls-Royce this afternoon.<\/p>

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After meeting Prime Minister Liz Truss in the 1844 Room at 12.15pm, Charles shook hands with\u00a0Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of\u00a0Antigua and Barbuda, who has renewed efforts to stage a referendum on the country becoming a republic within three years of\u00a0the Queen<\/a>‘s death.<\/p>

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The King and Queen Consort Camilla will tonight host hundreds of dignitaries, from world leaders including US President\u00a0Joe Biden<\/a>, New Zealand’s prime minister\u00a0Jacinda Ardern<\/a>\u00a0and Canadian premier\u00a0Justin Trudeau<\/a>\u00a0to senior members of the British royal family, ambassadors from almost all nations, and foreign royals including Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and the Kings and Queens from Holland, Norway and Spain.<\/p>\n

Most dignitaries are also expected to view\u00a0the Queen<\/a>‘s coffin in the ancient heart of Parliament after being given a VIP timeslot – raising the prospect that mourners who have queued through the night will pay their respects with leaders of the free world.<\/p>

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However, guests asked to wear lounge suits and morning dress rather than ball gowns and white tie as would be expected at a usual state event at the King’s London home.\u00a0They will arrive at 6pm for drinks and canapes in the Buckingham Palace picture gallery and state apartments.<\/p>\n

And reports suggest that the Duke and\u00a0Duchess of Sussex<\/a>\u00a0were ‘uninvited’ to a state reception for world leaders and foreign royals this evening.<\/p>

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Mr Biden, who flew in late last night, said that the Queen ‘defined an era’ after she reigned for a record-breaking 70 years.\u00a0Australia’s anti-monarchy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who viewed the lying-in-state and met Charles yesterday, told Sky News Australia that the Queen was ‘a constant reassuring presence’. There was also a private audience at Buckingham Palace for Ms Ardern, which like Australia and 12 other Commonwealth realms now counts Charles as its sovereign.<\/p>

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