HAMILTON  –  King Charles has visited a new UK Space Agency observatory and launched a project to track space debris on the final day of his royal visit to Bermuda. After opening a new coast guard station later in the day, the King donned his sunglasses as he climbed up the boarding steps for his flight home – and bid the British overseas territory farewell. The King, who arrived in the capital city Hamilton on Thursday, was waved off by dignitaries and a guard of honour formed by the Royal Bermuda Regiment. It followed his four-day state visit to the US – seen as the biggest diplomatic moment of his reign so far. The King toured the observatory on Cooper’s Island and learned about Project Nova – which will oversee the installation of a network of telescopes across five sites to help track material in space, such as old satellites and rocket stages.  His Sustainable Markets Initiative – designed to encourage sustainability in the private sector, including the space industry – has been closely involved in the £40m project. He then opened a new Great Bay Coast Guard Station in St David’s, where he awarded operational medals to members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment and viewed new technology used to protect the island’s waters and marine environment. Later at LF Wade International Airport, a small group of dignitaries including Premier David Burt gathered as the King drew the visit to a close. The monarch walked a short stretch of red carpet and spoke to leading figures including the commissioner of police Darrin Simons and leader of the opposition Ben Smith.

Shortly before boarding the plane, the King posed for a photo with assembled officials including police and security personnel.

It followed the first full day of his visit on Friday, which included a boat trip with the coastguard, a cake-cutting event and a visit to the National Museum of Bermuda.

He also viewed artefacts from the transatlantic slave trade and visited a conservation initiative.

The trip marked King Charles’s first visit to a British overseas territory since taking the throne.