King Charles has given royal fans an unusual look inside the private aircraft carrying him on his Caribbean tour, revealing an interior complete with plush seating, privacy curtains and tartan cushions.
The 77-year-old monarch arrived in Nassau, The Bahamas, on October 27, marking the beginning of a nine-day visit to the region. His itinerary includes stops in The Bahamas, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, as well as attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Royal Family shared the behind-the-scenes images on Instagram, showing Charles making use of the flight to continue working while travelling between engagements.
Dressed smartly in a pink shirt and matching tie, the King sat in a dark grey seat while reading a sizeable collection of briefing documents. The photograph was posted with the caption: “Looking forward to joining the people of the Bahamas…”
The accompanying message added: “When travelling, The King likes to spend time reading briefing papers, continuing with his Government red box duties, reading and writing correspondence, and discussing projects with his support team.”
A second image showed the aircraft’s pilots alongside Geoffrey the Giraffe, a travelling mascot whose appearances have helped raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The photographs provide a rare glimpse of the Royal Air Force’s VIP Voyager, known as Vespina. Since 2016, the aircraft has served as the principal long-distance transport for members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and senior UK government ministers.
Inside, the jet features a polished combination of grey and cream seats, curtains offering privacy and tartan cushions—possibly reflecting the monarch’s well-known affection for Scotland.
King Charles has revealed a rare view of the private aircraft being used during his Caribbean tour, where plush seats and tartan cushions feature in the VIP interior.
The images offer an unusual insight into the Royal Air Force VIP Voyager, known as Vespina, which has been the main aircraft for the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and UK government ministers since 2016.
The Royal Family also shared a photograph of the pilots with Geoffrey the Giraffe, whose travels have supported fundraising for Great Ormond Street. Source: Instagram / The Royal Family
Previous reports have put the aircraft’s operating cost at as much as £2,000 an hour, meaning the nine-hour journey on Tuesday may have cost approximately £18,000. The plane is configured with 58 business-class seats and 100 standard premium-economy seats for royal staff.
The spacious converted RAF Voyager, affectionately nicknamed “Cam Force One”, entered service in 2016 and is operated by the Royal Air Force. It is also available for long-haul travel by senior government figures.
This is not the first time the public has been offered a glimpse inside the King and Queen’s high-end travel arrangements.
In April, the Royal Family released heartwarming footage of Queen Camilla aboard the royal aircraft during a journey from Buckingham Palace to New York City.
The video showed Camilla transporting Roo, a replica of a lost toy once owned by Christopher Robin Milne, the son of Winnie-the-Pooh author A. A. Milne. The toy travelled with the royal couple during their state visit to the United States.
The original Roo disappeared from an English orchard in the 1930s. Ahead of the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, the Queen, 79, helped return the replica to its rightful owners.
After being welcomed at the royal residence with a red-carpet reception, Roo was carried up the aircraft stairs and even enjoyed a privileged view from the shoulder of one of the royal pilots.
Camilla was also filmed playfully reading to the toy before carefully placing Roo inside her black Lady Dior handbag.
Since touching down in the Caribbean on Tuesday, Charles has embraced the region’s lively carnival atmosphere.
The aircraft has a stylish interior with grey and cream seating, privacy curtains and tartan cushions, perhaps a subtle nod to the King’s fondness for Scotland.
The 77-year-old monarch arrived in Nassau, The Bahamas, on October 27 for the first stage of his nine-day Caribbean tour, which includes Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
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Royal fans were previously given a rare look at the couple’s luxury travel arrangements when footage showed Queen Camilla aboard their aircraft during a journey from Buckingham Palace to New York.
On Wednesday, his first full day of engagements, Charles watched a Junkanoo parade in Nassau as the debate over slavery and reparations continued in the background. The energetic celebration saw dancers in brightly coloured costumes take over one of the city’s main roads.
The King had been expected to observe the performance alongside Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis as guest of honour. However, the enthusiasm of the parade soon drew him into the festivities.
Charles initially tapped his feet before accepting musical instruments and moving along with the rhythm. He then appeared to exchange a playful glance with his police protection team before laughing and stepping into the crowd.
The spontaneous moment showcased the King’s evident enjoyment, despite his demanding schedule at the age of 77 and his ongoing cancer treatment.
Earlier, Charles had been welcomed by the Prime Minister at the House of Assembly on Parliament Square, one of the tour’s major public engagements. He also met Bahamian students taking part in building programmes run by The King’s Foundation before joining the street celebrations.
David Brown, of Brown’s Restaurant, presented the monarch with the local speciality of crab and rice. Brown later recalled: “He said he hoped I had enough to go around.”
The King subsequently took part in an impromptu walkabout, shaking hands with residents who had gathered in Parliament Square to see him.
Only four protesters calling for reparations were present along the parade route, although local police later asked them to leave.
Charles’s nine-day Caribbean tour was requested by the British government and includes visits to The Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda. He will also attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where he is due to be joined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Footage shared by the Royal Family showed Roo receiving VIP treatment aboard the royal aircraft, offering another glimpse inside the spacious jet.
King Charles arrives at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, The Bahamas, on Tuesday during his autumn tour of Caribbean nations.
On his first full day of engagements, Charles watched Nassau’s lively Junkanoo parade while the sensitive debate over slavery and reparations continued.
The visit has been accompanied by calls from campaigners for the British government to apologise formally for its role in the historic transatlantic slave trade and to provide reparations.
Charles, who acts on the advice of his ministers, addressed the issue shortly after arriving on Tuesday evening. He said: “It is only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering of the past, in these islands and beyond.”
The monarch did not offer an apology or financial compensation, reflecting current government policy. However, aides have said he will not avoid the growing calls for action, which risk overshadowing his visit to The Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda.
A spokesman for the King said Charles would confront “the most shameful aspects of our past”.
Whether that response will satisfy campaigners remains uncertain. The Bahamas National Reparations Committee has already issued a blunt warning: “Don’t come empty-handed.”
Buckingham Palace says the King is fully aware of the strength of feeling in the region, particularly because he is both Head of the Commonwealth and monarch of two countries on his itinerary, The Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda. Calls for the UK to take action have intensified in both nations.
“His Majesty will as usual not seek to ignore the past,” one aide said.
As part of the tour, Charles is expected to address the “backdrop of wider discussions on colonial legacy” in several speeches and visit locations connected to the history of slavery.
