Charles on tour as government pledges £15m support

Royalty:

general of Antigua and Barbuda, Rodney Williams, and the country’s prime minister, Gaston Browne.

The red carpet welcome included a guard of honour and a band who played the national anthems of Britain and Antigua.

Ms Mordaunt said: “The UK aid mission was huge, covering small islands stretching more than 1,000 miles apart, where buildings, airports and infrastructure had been razed to the ground.

“I want to pay tribute to the governments of the overseas territories, our humanitarian staff and to the military effort, which has been absolutely essential in delivering relief.

“Now as we move on from the immediate response phase, on to the long-term future of the islands, Britain will continue to stand by people whose lives were devastated.

“We are also talking to the international private sector who can support the reconstruction efforts to make sure the islands can build back, and better.”

Hurricane Irma, the most powerful storm to barrel through the Caribbean in decades, devastated swathes of the British Virgin Islands in September and left Barbuda almost uninhabitable after destroying nearly all of its buildings.

Less than two weeks later, the region was rocked by a second storm, Hurricane Maria which decimated Dominica and Puerto Rico.

“Britain will stand by people whose lives were devastated”

WELCOME: The Prince of Wales views a guard of honour as he arrives at V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua