Photos & Videos: King Charles III Visits City Hall
King Charles III visited City Hall in Hamilton this afternoon [May 1] as part of his official visit to the island.
A City spokesperson said, “The City of Hamilton was honoured to welcome His Majesty King Charles III to City Hall this afternoon as part of his official visit to Bermuda.
“Upon arrival at 1:20 p.m., His Majesty was formally ‘cried in’ by the City of Hamilton’s Town Crier, Ed Christopher, marking the start of the visit.
“His Majesty was then received by Premier David Burt and Charles Gosling, Mayor of Hamilton. The Mayor formally introduced His Majesty to Members of the Corporation of Hamilton, including City Councillors and Executive. The occasion was accompanied by musical performances from a youth steel pan band from the Bermuda Institute.
King Charles III Arrives At City Hall
“The Mayor then introduced His Majesty to the Government of Bermuda’s Director of Culture, Ms Carlita Lodge, who in turn presented a selection of local artisans. These included stonecutter and mason Mr. Laurence Mills; Bermuda cedar artisan Mr. Darius Richardson; Bermuda banana doll maker Ms Ronnie Chameau; and apprentice Janet DeBraga. His Majesty engaged with the artisans and learned more about their craft and the role of traditional skills in Bermuda’s cultural heritage.
“Then His Majesty, escorted by the Mayor and Governor Andrew Murdoch, greeted members of the public and children from local schools.
“Inside City Hall, His Majesty was introduced to Ms. Nzinga Ming, Gallery Director of the Bermuda Society of Arts, and Ms. Shannon Rose, Education Officer for the Arts for the Government of Bermuda. They invited His Majesty to view a curated selection of works from the Spring into Art exhibition and to meet several young Bermudian artists.
“The Mayor then introduced His Majesty to Mr. Gary Phillips, Chair of the Bermuda National Gallery, and Ms. Jennifer Phillips, Director of the Bermuda National Gallery. They, in turn, introduced Bermudian artist and designer Mr. Michael Frith and Ms Kathryn Mullen, who spoke about Mr. Frith’s work and the broader Bermudian art community.
King Charles III Meets Bermudian Artists
“During the visit, the City presented His Majesty with a handcrafted Bermuda cedar bowl on behalf of the Corporation of Hamilton. Crafted by the City’s Parks Manager and skilled artisan, Mr. Steven DeSilva, the piece is made from Bermuda cedar salvaged following a hurricane in 2014. As part of the City’s commitment to stewardship and sustainability, felled trees are carefully preserved and repurposed, allowing their stories to endure in new forms. As Mr. DeSilva explained to His Majesty, the cedar used for this piece once stood on Victoria Street, named in honour of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Its growth rings suggest it first took root during the 1860s, within the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, His Majesty’s great-great-great-grandmother.
“Following the presentation, His Majesty exited City Hall and was introduced to traditional kite maker Mr. Eugene O’Connor Sr., who demonstrated this longstanding Bermudian craft. He was also introduced to members of the local Plein Air Art Community by festival organiser Miss Heidi Cowan. Artists present included Mr. Otto Trott, Ms Eli Cedrone, Ms Michele Smith, Mr. Jahbarri A. Wilson, Ms Vivienne Gardner, and Mr. Jonah Jones, who were painting live on the grounds of City Hall.
“His Majesty, accompanied by the Mayor and the Governor, concluded the visit with a further walkabout to greet schoolchildren before departing City Hall.”
Mayor Gosling said, “It was a great honour to welcome His Majesty to the City of Hamilton. Today’s visit showcased the talent, creativity, and cultural richness of Bermuda, and it was especially meaningful to see our young people and artisans represented at the heart of the occasion. It is particularly meaningful for me, as I had the privilege of welcoming Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the beginning of my tenure as Mayor, and it is especially meaningful to now mark its close with the visit of His Majesty King Charles III.”
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