Boats dancing and cake cutting – King Charles III is visiting Bermuda on his first trip to a British overseas territory as monarch. The King, who was not accompanied by Queen Camilla, arrived in the territory's capital of Hamilton on Thursday evening, after a four-day state visit to the US. His first day in the territory included viewing artefacts from the transatlantic slave trade, a boat trip with the coastguard and a cake-cutting event at an aquarium.

The trip was also a change of pace for the King, whose visit to the US was seen as the biggest diplomatic moment of his reign. In one of the day's most sombre moments, the King was shown a small display at the National Museum of Bermuda that traces the island's history as part of the trade, and includes an image of shackled men on board a slave ship, as well as neck irons used by slave traders. He then watched a Gombey dance performance – the tradition was restricted during slavery, with people only being allowed to perform it on Christmas and New Year's, according to Irwin Trott, spokesman for the Bermudan Gombey dance troops.

After meeting the King, Trott said: "I told him that it's a combination of cultures, African, Caribbean, West Indian, Native American and, of course, Great Britain." "Even though they were stripped of their identity, names were taken, their language was taken, deep in their heart they maintained their culture, and so it still flourished throughout the Caribbean." While it is the King's first visit to Bermuda as sovereign, he previously came in 1970 for the opening of the island's parliament and toured the territory in an open-top car. As part of the welcome on Friday, he inspected the Royal Bermuda Regiment of the British Army before shaking hands with members of the public who lined the streets of former capital St George. Those who gathered ahead of the King's appearance saw a marching band and military procession pass through the town, before his arrival was marked with a 21-gun salute.

The band later treated the King to a rendition of Jamming by Bob Marley and the Wailers. People of all ages carried the union jack and took photographs of the King. Four-year-old Theo attended the event with his mother, wearing a King's guardsman outfit which caught the monarch's attention.

Theo's mother said she purchased the outfit from the shop at Buckingham Palace two years ago. "He's worn it ever since!", she joked. One young girl, Charlotte, came to see the King and got to shake his hand.

"I'm never washing my hand again", she told the BBC. Charlotte's mother Jennifer recounted how her own mother brought her to see Queen Elizabeth II on one of her six visits to the territory. King Charles then went on to visit the Living Classroom on Bermuda's Trunk Island, an initiative for young people to learn about the local eco-system.

There, he watched with a group of children three land hermit crabs were released – they had been moved from a development site that threatened their habitat. During the visit, Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) staff performed a health check on a Bermuda Longtail, also known as a white-tailed tropic bird. BZS are also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the island's aquarium museum, for which the King stopped by to cut the cake.

In addition to events on land, the King also took a boat trip with Bermuda's coastguard, and heard about their work tackling illegal fishing and smuggling. He also met Bermuda-born Michael Frith, who designed many of the Muppets characters, and his wife, Kathryn Mullen. The King has been largely well received throughout his visits over the last week, including when US President Donald Trump told the monarch his mother thought he was "cute".

However, there had been concerns a worsening relationship between the UK and the US could make for an uncomfortable visit. In recent months, Trump criticised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer multiple times over the UK's unwillingness to get involved in America and Israel's war with Iran. The King indirectly addressed the tensions in a speech in front of the US Congress, which received a standing-ovation.

In the speech, the King hailed an "indispensable" UK and US partnership. A parting gift came from Trump who lifted tariffs on Scottish whisky "in honour of the King and Queen". King Charles' visit to Bermuda will take place over two days, before he returns to the UK.

Additional reporting by Nada Tawfik.