UK–Bermuda relations and the visit of King Charles III 2026

The King's visit will mark his first visit as monarch to a UK Overseas Territory (OT). The visit will follow the King and Queen's state visit to the United States of America.

Andrew Murdoch, the UK-appointed Governor of Bermuda, described the visit as “an opportunity to celebrate […] Bermudians” and “strengthen the UK’s modern partnership with Bermuda”.

This page provides a summary of royal visits to Bermuda and sets out recent issues in UK–Bermuda relations, including progress on beneficial ownership legislation, disputes over drugs laws and Bermuda’s elected government.

What are the UK Overseas Territories?

The UK Overseas Territories are places around the world with historical links to the UK.

The OTs, along with the UK and its Crown Dependencies like Jersey, form one undivided realm where the King is sovereign. This means they have no separate international representation. Each of the inhabited OTs has their own elected government and parliament, as well as a UK-appointed governor. The UK Parliament retains the ability to legislate for each Territory, though this is rarely done.

Generally, the UK-appointed governor retains responsibility for external affairs and internal security and may have the right to veto legislation from local legislatures.

There are 14 OTs across the globe, but only 10 are permanently inhabited by British nationals. The majority of the estimated 290,000 inhabitants of OTs are British citizens (Bermuda constitutes around a fifth of all UKOT citizens, with an estimated population of 63,000).

The Commons Library briefing, The UK’s Overseas Territories: An introduction, provides an overview.

Royal visits to Bermuda

King Charles’ last official visit to Bermuda was in 1970, as Prince of Wales, where he read the Speech from the Throne to mark the 350th year of parliamentary government in Bermuda.

The most recent visit to Bermuda by any member of the Royal Family was made by the Duchess of Gloucester in October 2025.

The last visit to Bermuda by a reigning monarch was Queen Elizabeth II in 2009, when she and Prince Philip joined the celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the settlement.

Bermuda was the final OT visited by Queen Elizabeth II. In total, the Queen visited Bermuda on six occasions (PDF): five were official visits and one was for a refuelling stop. The dates of these visits are provided in the table below.

List of visits to Bermuda by Queen Elizabeth II 24 to 25 November 1953 16 to 18 February 1975 1 March 1975 (for refuelling) 13 February 1983 8 to 10 March 1994 24 to 26 November 2009

Current issues in UK–Bermuda relations

There are several issues in UK–Bermuda relations, including disagreements over:

• publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership
• cannabis legislation
• sanctions against Russia
• the legislative process in Bermuda
• Bermuda’s international engagement
• same-sex marriage
• a new partnership agreement

Publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership

Since 2018, the UK Government has sought to encourage all OTs to introduce publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership. ‘Beneficial ownership’ is the person who ultimately owns or controls an asset, such as property or a company. This may differ from the direct legal owner, who may not control or benefit from that asset.

To date, only three OTs have introduced publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership. Many, including Bermuda, have cited privacy concerns around registers of beneficial ownership (PDF). Instead, these OTS are introducing registers limited to those with a “legitimate interest” (such as journalists). The UK Government says that legitimate interest registers are acceptable only as an interim measure. There are existing agreements in place between the OTs and the UK Government that facilitate information sharing between the OTs and UK law-enforcement agencies.

In July 2025, the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty, said that he had “made clear our expectation that Bermuda implements a register of beneficial ownership as soon as possible” and officials were offering support.

Bermuda’s Beneficial Ownership Act 2025 (PDF) came into force in November 2025. The Beneficial Ownership (Consequential Amendments) Order 2025 (PDF) makes changes to affected laws. It will be a legitimate interest access register, and is due to be enforced from June 2026.

Cannabis legislation

Bermuda’s Misuse of Drugs Act 2017 (PDF) removed the criminal offense for possessing (but not consuming, selling or trafficking) up to 7 grams of cannabis.

Progressive Labour Party commitment to legalising cannabis

At Bermuda’s 2020 election, the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) said that, if it was elected, it would allow cannabis to be medically prescribed and that it would establish a regulatory regime for it to be imported, produced and sold. In 2020, the PLP also introduced a bill to permit lawful uses of cannabis for personal adult use (PDF).

Governor of Bermuda’s cannabis legislation veto

However, in 2022, the UK Government-appointed Governor of Bermuda refused assent to the bill following an instruction from the then UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss. The UK Government had concluded that the bill was inconsistent with international obligations on the UK and Bermuda under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The UK Government argued that the conventions only allow legalisation for medicinal and scientific purposes and for limited personal use.

In 2023, the then Minister for the Overseas Territories, David Rutley, said that the UK position on the narcotic drugs convention remained the same but that it was open to working with Bermuda’s government.

Discussion about cannabis legislation in Bermuda

Bermuda’s Attorney General (a member of the PLP) said that the UK’s decision was “disappointing” and that the interpretation of the conventions was “archaic”. Bermuda’s Premier, David Burt, warned that the decision could “destroy” relations with the UK.

Bermuda’s opposition party, One Bermuda Alliance, then led by N.H. Cole Simons, did not support the passage of the legislation through the Bermuda Parliament (some PLP members also abstained). Mr Simons accused the PLP of using the legislation as a “smokescreen” for independence (see below for more on the independence debate). The PLP has said that the cannabis legislation is not a smokescreen for independence, arguing that the bill is needed to protect lives.

Proposals for new cannabis legislation

As of 2025, the Bermudian Government is intending to move forward with legislation on “a path to simplify obtaining cannabis for medicinal purposes” while remaining within the UK OT framework.

Applying UK sanctions against Russia

The UK has introduced coordinated sanctions against Russia in response to its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These sanctions target important sources of Russian revenue, strategic industries, individuals and companies.

Sanctions alignment

The long-standing policy of the UK Government is for the OTs to apply the same sanctions as the UK. Bermuda and Gibraltar pass their own sanctions legislation that is aligned with to the UK.

In 2023, the then Bermudian Attorney General, Kathy Lynn Simmons, said that Bermuda’s Financial Sanctions Implementation Unit had “embraced the important role in ensuring sanctions obligations are complied with” in Bermuda. She said that US$220 million of Russian assets had been frozen [up to 2023], and that this figure was likely to increase.

In September 2025, the UK and Bermudian governments signed a memorandum of understanding on sanctions. Under the agreement, the UK said it would provide up to £300,000 in 2025/26 to enhance Bermudian sanctions.

Problems with sanctions in the Overseas Territories

A 2026 study by Transparency International Russia (an exiled Russian non-governmental organisation) found that Russian companies registered in the OTs remain a crucial conduit for Russian trade and that at least US$8 billion in trade was routed through them between February 2022 and January 2025. Most of the transactions studied were carried out in 2022. The report called for beneficial ownership registers to be introduced in the OTs (see above).

In response to the report, a spokesperson for Bermuda’s government said that it was ensuring “robust compliance with the obligations under the sanctions framework”.

Bermuda’s elected government has called for greater consultation and power

In 2018, the UK Parliament passed legislation requiring all OTs to introduce publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership. Like many other OT governments, Bermuda’s government has criticised the UK Parliament for passing this legislation and has said that such actions should occur only with the “consent of the Bermuda Legislature”.

In 2026, Bermuda’s elected government has called for a “codified consultation protocol across Whitehall” for any primary legislation in the UK that may apply to the OTs. It said the beneficial ownership legislation, the debate over cannabis legislation and the way treaties are applied to the OTs are examples of when “early engagement failed clear consultation expectations”.

Bermuda’s elected government has also been exploring opportunities for greater self-rule. In 2022, the Premier said “we are not a fully democratic island, that is a fact.” Like other OTs, Bermuda’s government wants the territory to be removed from the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Issues raised by a Bermudian Government 2022 report on self-government (PDF) included the UK’s right to legislate for the territory and the governor’s control over reserved responsibilities (such as external affairs). In 2026, it has called for a greater role in appointing governors (this is something that UK governments have rejected in the past; see section 2.3 of the Commons Library briefing The UK Overseas Territories and their Governors).

While independence is currently not on the agenda, in 2022 Premier Burt said that “our [Bermuda’s] next step” in relations with the UK “is certainly to be a sovereign state”. Bermuda last held an independence referendum in 1995. On a turnout of 59%, 74% of voters rejected Bermudian independence.

Increasing Bermuda’s international engagement

Bermuda’s constitution gives the governor responsibility over the territory’s external affairs. However, the governor can also delegate responsibility for external affairs to an elected minister in the Bermudian Government (responsibility for external affairs is currently delegated the Bermudian Premier (PDF)). In addition, the UK Government can grant entrustments to OT governments to sign international agreements.

Bermuda has recently sought to strengthen its international presence, citing a need to diversify its economic engagement to protect against shocks. In recent years, Bermuda has developed links with

• The Caribbean Community (Caricom). Since 2003, Bermuda has been an associate member of the 15-strong organisation that seeks greater integration within the Caribbean. In 2024, the UK granted an entrustment to Bermuda allowing it to pursue full membership of Caricom (Montserrat is the only other OT that has full membership). In March 2026, the Government of Bermuda launched a public consultation on Bermuda’s next steps with Caricom, including full membership. Bermuda has also participated in Caricom meetings with the African Union.
• The Middle East. In August 2023, the UK Government granted Bermuda permission to develop links in the region. In November 2023, Premier Burt attended COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and discussed UAE government investment in Bermuda. The Premier has since made further visits to the region.

Ban on same-sex marriage

Bermuda’s Domestic Partnership Act 2018 allows same-sex couples to form partnerships, but prohibits them from marrying. In 2022, the UK Privy Council (the highest court for the OTs) ruled that the domestic partnership act is constitutional.

The act followed a non-binding referendum in 2016, in which 49% of voters participated. 69% voted against allowing same sex marriages and 63% voted against allowing civil unions.

In 2023, a case was communicated in the European Court of Human Rights on the Bermudian legislation, in which the UK Government is responsible for responding. The case focuses on Articles 12 (right to marry) and 14 (protection from discrimination) of the ECHR. At the time of writing, no further updates have been published by the court.

In 2019, the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee called for the UK to legislate to introduce same-sex marriage in the OTs. The UK Government says it is a devolved issue for the OTs to consider individually. As in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands allow same-sex civil partnerships but not marriage. In four OTS there is no legal provision for any same-sex union (either marriage or civil partnership). These are: Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Negotiating a new UK–Overseas Territories partnership agreement

UK–OT relations are governed primarily by a 2012 white paper. At the 2025 joint ministerial council of UK and OT ministers, the UK Government said that it would aim to negotiate new compacts with each of the OTs.

The elected Bermudian Government has welcomed the proposal, saying that to address some of its concerns in its relations with the UK (see above), the compacts should be “bespoke [and] time-bound” and “clarify responsibilities” between the Governor, the elected Bermudian Government, the UK Government, and the UK Parliament.

In April 2026, the Lords Constitution Committee argued that the compacts and a new white paper were needed “urgently” to replace the “patchwork” of UK–OT engagement.

The UK Government has said that the white paper will remain “the foundation” of UK–OT relations and that it has an “established practice to consult” on legislation for the OTs.