william kate caribbean tour disaster

Prince William and Kate’s Tour Was Meant to Secure the Monarchy in the Caribbean. Instead, It’s Raising New Questions About Its Future

T he British royal family is facing embarrassment on the international stage this week as protests disrupt Prince William and Kate Middleton’s tour of former British colonies in the Caribbean. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began their week-long visit to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas March 19.

Officially, the trip was meant to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, celebrating 70 years on the throne. Many observers say the trip was meant to persuade the three countries to keep the Queen as head of state, and not to follow Barbados, which transitioned to a republic last November. But growing calls to cut formal ties with the Queen and campaigns for slavery reparations have ignited a reckoning with the region’s colonial past.

How is Prince William and Kate’s visit sparking controversy?

Prince William and Kate arrived in Jamaica, the second stop of their trip, on March 22. Only a day later, The Independent reported that the Jamaican government had begun the process of transitioning the island nation—which is the largest English speaking country in the Caribbean—to a republic.

The news arrived at a difficult moment for the royals. The day before the couple’s arrival in the country, one hundred Jamaican academics, politicians, and cultural figures signed an open letter calling for the royal family and British government to apologize and pay reparations for subjecting the island to colonial rule and slavery.

“We are of the view an apology for British crimes against humanity, including but not limited to the exploitation of the indigenous people of Jamaica, the transatlantic trafficking of Africans, the enslavement of Africans, indentureship and colonialization is necessary to begin a process of healing, forgiveness, reconciliation and compensation,” the letter said.

The letter’s consignatories describe Prince William and Kate as “direct beneficiaries of the wealth accumulated by the royal family…from the trafficking and enslavement of Africans”. In reference to the Queen’s Jubilee, the letter reads: “We see no reason to celebrate 70 years of the ascension of your grandmother to the British throne because her leadership, and that of her predecessors, has perpetuated the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind.”

The group, called the Advocates Network, staged a protest March 22 outside the British High Commission in Kingston to coincide with the couple’s arrival. Demonstrators held banners reading “#SehYuhSorry and make REPARATIONS.”

The following day, Prince William stopped short of an apology, instead expressing “profound sorrow” for the “appalling atrocity of slavery” during an address to Jamaica’s prime minister March 23.

“Slavery was abhorrent and it never should have happened,” he said . “I strongly agree with my father, the Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history.”

The Advocates Network issued a statement in response, calling the Prince’s words “unacceptable,” adding: “There was no responsibility taken! No call out of centuries of British bloody conquest and plunder.”

Events in Jamaica weren’t the only controversy for the couple on their tour. They canceled their first major engagement the day before touching down in Belize, the first stop on the trip. William and Kate were due to visit a cocoa farm March 20 but locals staged a protest against the visit, objecting to the couple’s plans to land their helicopter on a nearby football pitch without consultation, the Daily Mail reported .

The protests were part of a wider land dispute between indigenous communities and Flora and Fauna International (FFI), the conservation charity that William supports as patron. Locals allege that the charity controls their communal ancestral lands, lost in the colonial era, as “private property,” according to the report. Demonstrators carried banners reading ‘Prince William leave our land’ and ‘Colonial legacy of theft continues with Prince and FFI’.

Why is the Queen still head of state in 14 independent countries?

Queen Elizabeth II is not only the monarch of the U.K., but also of 14 other countries , including Canada, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, known as the Commonwealth realms. They are distinct from the Commonwealth of Nations , a group of 54 countries that were once part of the British Empire—the majority of which no longer recognize the Queen as sovereign.

The nations of the Commonwealth realms are constitutional monarchies—the Queen is a symbolic head of state but the countries are ruled by elected governments. The Queen is not involved in governing but she does still have some constitutional duties, such as approving new governments and legislation, which are carried out by a royal representative.

Although the Queen’s position in these nations is mostly symbolic, the U.K. government noted that the monarchy forms part of Britain’s outsized influence on the world.

In November, Barbados became the first country to remove the Queen as head of state since Mauritius in 1992. Dame Sandra Mason, the island’s governor-general since 2018, was named as president-elect of the nation. “The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind,” she said .

Debates about abolishing the monarchy have rumbled on for decades in other Commonwealth realms. Both Australia and the Caribbean nation St. Vincent and the Grenadines held failed referendums on becoming republics, in 1999 and 2009 respectively. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Arden, told the Guardian in 2018 that she expected the country to transition to a republic in her lifetime.

According to Barbadian political analyst and pollster Peter Wickham, certain Commonwealth realms may struggle to relinquish the monarchy even if the public and government want it. Barbados was able to become a republic because its constitution allowed the government to take the decision independently. In countries like Jamaica, it can only happen through a referendum with a two-thirds majority. “I don’t believe it will ever happen because the referendum will be manipulated by political parties,” Wickham says, drawing comparisons with the divisions caused by the U.K.’s Brexit referendum.

Why do campaigners no longer want the Queen as head of state?

Although the Queen’s role in Commonwealth realms is largely symbolic, attitudes towards the royal family are varied and complex. Wickham says that although Elizabeth herself is quite popular in many Caribbean countries, she is perceived as “not really relevant.”

“We don’t have a problem with her or even monarchy as such,” he says. “Most of us think she’s all the way in England and there’s no reason why we should maintain her as head of state.”

Some believe that keeping the Queen as head of state undermines independence, and only serves to perpetuate colonial subservience. “Imagine being given independence, and then to be told as an adult nation, that the Queen still had a stake in Jamaica and that the island is not really free. It is still an infant colony,” Jamaican-born British writer and academic Dr. Velma McClymont told TIME.

Calls for republicanism have been growing in Jamaica, which celebrates its 60-year anniversary of independence from Britain this year. According to leader of the Jamaican opposition, Mark Golding, the killing of George Floyd in 2020 and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests reignited conversations around national identity in Jamaica, whose population is over 90% Black.

“There are strong feelings that the royal family should apologize for their involvement with the slave trade and the plantation system which our people went through for a few hundred years,” Golding tells TIME. “I think it would enhance the cohesiveness of the relationship going forward.”

Golding says that although William and Kate’s trip to Jamaica may have been more “fraught” than they expected, he hopes it was a revelatory experience for the couples at the center of the royal family’s future. “I hope that they will realize that a better future can be assured by some introspection and reflection on the past, and the role of the institution of which they are now key members.”

Further to an apology, many campaigners demand compensation for the centuries of human rights violations that still impact former colonies today. CARICOM, an intergovernmental organization of 15 Caribbean countries, unanimously passed a 10-point plan in 2014 calling on European countries to compensate former colonies for centuries of exploitation and slavery. The demands include a repatriation of the descendants of slaves and debt cancellation. The body, which includes Jamaica and Barbados, says that the subjugation of former colonies by European governments is “the primary cause of development failure in the Caribbean.” Golding agrees, attributing issues of economic and healthcare inequality in Jamaica to the legacy of colonialism.

“Today, Jamaicans are still struggling and relying on remittances from relatives abroad, McClymont says. “I’m 65 years old this year, and I’ve been sending remittances [from the U.K.] to rural Jamaicas since I was 17 years old.”

Another issue influencing public opinion in former British colonies is allegations of racism made by Meghan Markle, the first biracial woman to marry into the royal family.

“Suddenly, all of us who before didn’t really take much notice of the royal family began to see what was happening to Markle,” McClymont says. “She was vilified as a Black woman and no statement of support was made by the [royal] family.”

Markle’s allegations were so damaging the royal family was forced to respond. The Queen issued a statement calling them “concerning,” while Prince William defended the monarchy, saying, “We’re very much not a racist family.”

What does the future hold for the British monarchy around the world?

Despite a string of royal controversies in recent months—from Prince Andrew’s settlement in a sexual assault lawsuit to allegations of a cash-for-honors scandal at Prince Charles’ charity—public opinion of the Queen herself remains high. But the same may not be true of her heir. A poll conducted by Ipsos Mori of over 2,000 British adults found that the Queen, who in February tested positive for COVID-19 , is more than three times more popular than her immediate heir, Prince Charles.

Read more: Who’s Paying Prince Andrew’s $16 Million Settlement to Virginia Giuffre? What to Know About Royal Finances

Some royal observers have suggested that the Queen is investing in Prince William and Kate, aged 39 and 40 respectively, as future leaders of the royal family. The couple are twice as popular as Charles who, at 73, may not be on the throne as long as his mother. The Caribbean tour was a crucial test of the monarchy’s relevance in the modern era—the scale of the opposition William and Kate faced may well trouble the Queen.

Ultimately, however, Barbadian political analyst Wickham believes the future of the British monarchy outside the U.K. is less an issue of royal popularity than it is about countries’ national identity. “This is not about Queen Elizabeth herself. It’s not about an individual,” he says. “It’s really about us moving in a different direction.”

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Gaffes and Miscues Mar a Royal Tour of a Republic-Minded Caribbean

The trip by Prince William and his wife, Catherine, the duchess of Cambridge, dramatized how rapidly Queen Elizabeth II is losing her grip on distant dominions where she is still head of state.

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By Mark Landler

LONDON — In Belize, a visit to a cocoa farm was scotched after residents protested. In Jamaica, the prime minister declared his country was “moving on” from the British monarchy. In the Bahamas, the couple arrived to demands from a group calling for slavery reparations that they acknowledge Britain’s economy “was built on the backs of our ancestors.”

For Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge , it has been a turbulent tour of the Caribbean — one that has dramatized, through a pileup of gaffes and miscues, how rapidly Queen Elizabeth II is losing her grip on these distant dominions, even when she sends her most popular proxies.

Barbados cast off the queen as head of state last November, and Jamaica seems emboldened to follow suit, though it would require a referendum to amend the island’s constitution. William, second in line to the throne, got a taste of how the mood toward the monarchy has changed in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and a renewed call for reparations for Britain’s role in the slave trade.

“We intend to fulfill our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country,” Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, said on Wednesday as a po-faced William looked on.

On many stops of their tour, the couple was greeted warmly, even jubilantly. But even those encounters were marred by off-key images. During a military parade, William, resplendent in a white dress uniform, rode with his wife, also in white, in the same open-top Land Rover that carried the queen and Prince Philip in 1962. To some locals, it was a caricature of a colonial proconsul inspecting his troops.

In Trench Town, the Kingston neighborhood famous as the home of Bob Marley, the couple tried their hand at reggae and mixed with friendly crowds. But the enduring image of the stop was likely to be them touching the fingers of children stretched through a chain-link fence — the kind of public-relations gaffe that afflicts other members of the royal family but has rarely tarnished this couple.

The dissonance is about more than poor stagecraft, according to scholars and royal watchers. Sentiment toward the royal family has shifted perceptibly in the Caribbean since the killing of Black people by the police in the United States inflamed a long-simmering debate in Britain and its former colonies about the legacy of empire. Barbados’s decision to remove the queen was a tipping point.

“Barbados is seen as the conservative of the Caribbean,” said Richard Drayton, a professor of imperial history at Kings College London, who spent his childhood on the island. “So, when Barbados takes a step like this, it creates space for other Caribbean countries to move in that direction.”

Both major political parties in Jamaica support becoming a republic, though there are legal hurdles that make it more complicated than in Barbados. Guyana led an earlier wave of republicanism in the Caribbean, dissolving its ties to the queen in 1970. Trinidad and Tobago followed in 1976, and Dominica in 1978.

Elizabeth, 96 next month, remains head of state of 15 countries in the Commonwealth. While she has a reservoir of popularity in the Caribbean, particularly among older people, Professor Drayton said many were impatient for a public acknowledgment by the monarchy of its role in the slave trade, which was conducted under royal imprimatur by the Royal African Company in the 17th and 18th centuries.

William’s father, Prince Charles, spoke candidly about the stain of slavery when he was on hand for the ceremony at which Barbados became a republic. By all accounts, William went even further, though he stopped short of a formal apology.

“I want to express my profound sorrow,” he said at a dinner in Jamaica. “Slavery was abhorrent, and it should never have happened.”

Given the charged atmosphere, Professor Drayton said Buckingham Palace miscalculated by choreographing the couple’s visit as a traditional royal tour. The idea was to send William and Catherine, who are among the most popular royals in opinion polls, to represent the queen during her Platinum Jubilee (she stopped traveling overseas several years ago). Catherine, more commonly known as Kate, still got good reviews in the London tabloids.

“This is a very old strategy on the part of the royal household to cement its hold over the dominions, to make the charismatic presence of the crown visible,” he said. “The assumption they could simply send out members of the royal family to press the flesh and charm the crowds reflects a lack of clear thinking.”

The royal family has grappled with questions about race since last year, when the biracial, American-born wife of Prince Harry, Meghan, told Oprah Winfrey in a sensational television interview that a member of the family had expressed concerns about the color of their baby’s skin. Asked bluntly whether his family was racist, William said no.

While the Harry-and-Meghan show did not intrude on the William-and-Kate tropical tour, royal watchers said the repeated references to racial issues served as an illustration of what was lost when Harry and his wife gave up their royal duties and relocated to California. On a visit to Africa before the split, Meghan electrified crowds that had never seen a British duchess who looked like them.

“If this tour had been led by Harry and Meghan, it would probably have gone down a lot better than William and Kate,” said Ed Owens, a historian who has written about the relationship between the media and the monarchy. “Harry and Meghan were, if you like, the monarchy’s silver bullet, making it more palatable.”

Still, given the deeper historical trends, it is unlikely that even they would have kept the queen’s realm from shrinking further. Professor Drayton predicted Jamaica would be a republic in two years, possibly followed by Belize, though its situation was complicated by security concerns about its neighbor, Guatemala.

“The hesitations about doing this are now gone,” he said. “That particular ship has sailed.”

Mark Landler is the London bureau chief. In 27 years at The Times, he has been bureau chief in Hong Kong and Frankfurt, White House correspondent, diplomatic correspondent, European economic correspondent, and a business reporter in New York. More about Mark Landler

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DYNASTY: The Windsors Podcast: How Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Caribbean Tour Became a P.R. Disaster

By Vanity Fair

When Kate Middleton and Prince William arrived in Belize for a Commonwealth tour to honor Queen Elizabeth ’s Platinum Jubilee, a protest was the first sign that they might not get the reception they hoped for on their trip to the Caribbean. But it wasn’t until the couple met with Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, and he announced that the country planned to remove the queen as the country’s head of state, that it became clear just how poorly the tour really went. It also made some commentators wonder: If it were Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in their shoes, would they have been received in the same way?

Kate and William’s tour was just one of multiple royal visits to Commonwealth member countries in 2022, and on this episode of DYNASTY: The Windsors, we turn back the clock to the beginning of the organization to understand why the tour was more than just a few days of bad optics. The Commonwealth, founded in 1949, is a voluntary organization of 54 countries that share values such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. It traces its roots back to the British Empire, but not all of the current members are former colonies. Reactions to the royals across the nations can be mixed, and on this episode, journalist and presenter Afua Hagan explains the lingering affection for the queen in Ghana, even decades after the country declared independence. 

This episode also explores the history of royal philanthropy and exactly why charity across the Commonwealth is so important to the Windsors. Patrick Jephson, Princess Diana’s former private secretary, explains why Diana chose difficult and demanding charity jobs and how she influenced the rest of the royal family. Fundraising and charity appearances are the bread and butter of a royal’s job duties, but it was clear from Meghan’s entrance to the family that she had the ability to energize the family’s work and increase their appeal across the Commonwealth. But her first appearance with the Royal Foundation, alongside Harry, William, and Kate, revealed that she might not be able to fit in. When Harry and Meghan made their final high-profile trip to a Commonwealth country, a September 2019 tour of South Africa , their unhappiness behind the scenes finally became obvious for the first time.

The highest-profile move to decenter the Windsors took place last fall when Barbados removed the queen and installed an elected head of state. According to political journalist Peter Wickham, the country’s citizens had become increasingly frustrated that someone born in the country wouldn’t be able to ascend to its highest position. Along with newly crowned national hero Rihanna, Prince Charles was present when the change took place; in a speech, he sensitively discussed the moral horror of slavery and praised the people of Barbados for their persistence. But as Kate and William’s trip later proved, the move might have been too little, too late.

Listen to the episode in the player above, and don’t forget to tune in next Tuesday, May 31, when DYNASTY: The Windsors returns with an episode about the symbiotic relationship between the royals and their biggest rival, the tabloid press. Subscribe at listen.vanityfair.com/dynasty or wherever you get your podcasts.

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How Prince William and Kate Middleton's Caribbean "Charm Offensive" Lost Its Charm

As the tour progressed, it became increasingly clear that a trip intended to show the royals as empathetic and in touch was sparking the totally opposite reaction.

It was against this backdrop that Prince William and Kate jetted into the Caribbean to tour Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas for eight days. Before it even began, the trip faced questions about timing given events in Ukraine. Royal aides said they were keeping a close eye and may adjust their program accordingly, when asked about the decision to go ahead with the celebratory trip.

“The Duke and Duchess are very much looking forward to visiting the Caribbean region during the Platinum Jubilee year and having the opportunity to thank communities…for the support they have shown Her Majesty throughout her seventy-year reign,” Kensington Palace said. Elsewhere, the visit was more blatantly described as a “charm offensive” to “shore up support” for the monarchy in the region.

However, before the couple even touched down there were significant holes in the ‘winning them over’ narrative. “William and Kate in Tour Storm,” was the Daily Mail headline the day the couple arrived. The story, followed up worldwide, centered on a protest from residents over their dispute with a charity William supports and the fact the trip organizers had not got permission to land the royal helicopter on their football field. A visit to the Akte‘il Ha cacao farm in Indian Creek was hastily canceled and the royals appeared at a different chocolate farm, full of smiles. But it turned out that the small protest was just a glimpse of the controversy their trip would ultimately attract.

As the Cambridges posted pictures and videos on their social media accounts of them diving in Belize’s barrier reef alongside breezy messages with plane and flag emojis, a bigger debate about the visit was beginning to rage. Protestors outside the British High commission in Jamaica handed over a letter signed by a group of 100 prominent individuals from Jamaica's Advocates Network calling for an "apology and recognition of the need for atonement and reparations." The letter also said, "We see no reason to celebrate 70 years of the ascension of your grandmother to the British throne because her leadership, and that of her predecessors, have perpetuated the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind."

Protests during royal visits to the Caribbean are nothing new, but this tour felt like a turning point. For the first time, images of glamorous royals smiling in the sunshine while observing and sampling local life did not overshadow dissenting voices about monarchy and colonialism. There were many fantastic images and positive encounters, with the couple attracting frequent crowds and praise from those they spoke to. But it was the protests, not the pleasantries, that took center-stage. A tour designed to increase ties ended up becoming a catalyst for a brighter spotlight on those calling to sever them.

This was never more apparent than when the royal couple met Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet on their arrival into Kingston. As the cameras were rolling at the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister said clearly that the royals’ presence allowed “unresolved” issues to be “put front and center,” adding that Jamaica was “moving on.”

At that time, William said very little, at least not while the cameras were there. But later that night he made a long speec h in which he most notably directly addressed the “appalling atrocity” of slavery. “I want to express my profound sorrow,” he said. “Slavery was abhorrent, And it should never have happened.”

But if the Prince, and those who had drafted and approved his speech, had thought that these words would earn him praise, they were mistaken. It was widely noted that his comments fell short of the apology requested. “This ‘tone deaf’ statement echoes the well-crafted words of his father. It does not rise to the level of the formal apology that we deserve,” the same Advocates Network spearheading the protest over the visit told The Independent in a statement .

As the tour progressed, it became increasingly clear that moments intended to show the royals as empathetic and in touch were sparking the totally opposite reaction. When William and Kate greeted cheering children by a football pitch who were standing behind a wire fence in Trench Town, the resulting imagery created a deeply uncomfortable look for the monarchy as it instantly went viral. And when they deliberately recreated the Queen and Prince Philip’s journey on a Land Rover from decades ago, the wistful nod to a bygone era struck an odd tone in a country looking to move forward not back.

By the time the couple jetted out of Jamaica, the narrative that the trip was a disaster was well and truly entrenched. One Washington Post article headlined it as “cringeworthy.” A journalist for the Daily Mail declared herself to be “dying of embarrassment.” And a BBC royal correspondent traveling with the royals wrote of the “curiously disorganised” visit, commenting , “Times have changed. The Royal Family have in the past been pretty good at changing with them. But not on this tour.” As the couple emerged on Friday in The Bahamas to pouring rain, it was hard not to wonder whether even mother nature had decided to join in.

The question of whether the Cambridges could have avoided such negative reactions if things had been done differently is an interesting one. There is no doubt that steering clear of the optics of certain images could have spared them significant criticism. But right from the beginning, something did feel different about this trip. When so many focused on what was in reality a small protest in Belize, it felt like there was a global recognition that these were the issues that should be amplified during a visit to Caribbean realms at this time.

Whenever Buckingham Palace is asked about other countries retaining the British monarch as head of state they give a stock answer that this is “a matter for the people of [whatever country is in question].” While some might say that a charm offensive trip can only be viewed as an attempt retain the status quo, one only has to look at how the Queen responded to Barbados becoming a republic to see the grace with which the institution will let go. “On this significant occasion and your assumption of office as the first President of Barbados, I extend my congratulations to you and all Barbadians,” the 95-year-old Queen said in a message as her son and heir was sent to represent her as she was removed from her position.

This sentiment was reinforced by her grandson in his final speech before departing The Bahamas. “We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future. Relationships evolve. Friendship endures,” the Prince said. If the tour had indeed been designed to secure the monarchy’s future in the region, it had ended on an admission of defeat. But one senses that these may well be the words that William was the happiest to be able to deliver throughout the entire trip.

Prince Charles’s visit to Barbados last November saw him arrive in the country as its future head of state and leave with a completely changed status. In contrast, Prince William departs The Bahamas today on the same footing on which he arrived—as a Prince of the realm and its future king. Who knows when he and Kate will be back, but it appears increasingly likely that by the time he is, some realms in the Caribbean will have followed Barbados’s lead to see through the process of changing their head of state. Jamaica has made their intentions very clear and, following the royal visit, Belize has also signaled its desire to do the same. Ten years ago the then Jamaican Prime Minister declared “time come.” The biggest thing this trip has highlighted is the fact that now it really has.

Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures , released in 2021. 

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After that disastrous royal tour, is the sun finally setting on the Commonwealth realms?

A reckoning with those countries that have held on to Queen Elizabeth as their head of state is long overdue – as William and Kate’s trip to the Caribbean made clear

J ust how long has the British monarchy been in crisis? This time – after “Megxit”, after Prince Andrew – it was the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s disastrous trip to the Caribbean. What was supposed to be a “charm offensive” , drumming up enthusiasm in the year of the Queen’s platinum jubilee, ended up looking more like a long goodbye, with the headlines spotlighting anti-royal protests, failures to address legacies of slavery, and the news that Jamaica is planning to ditch the Queen as head of state.

It may well be time for the royal family to face up to the fact that the sun is setting on those final remnants of the empire that they once embodied – and not a moment too soon.

For Britons, it can be easy to forget that the Queen’s realm and territories stretch far beyond these isles. Out of the 54 “independent and equal nations” that make up the Commonwealth of Nations , 15 (including the UK) still count the Queen as their head of state. Becoming a republic doesn’t necessitate surrendering membership of the Commonwealth itself – it simply means a symbolic rejection of British rule. And with Barbados finally taking the leap last year, longstanding debates about republicanism have been reignited in the remaining realms.

The issue is just as hotly debated in the likes of Australia (54% of people there would support becoming a republic) as it is in Jamaica, but packing William and Kate off to the Caribbean has inevitably focused minds in that region. Though republican camps in the Caribbean have long cited the impact of colonialism and slavery on the contemporary fortunes of their countries, a new reckoning is afoot, against the backdrop of the global Black Lives Matter movement and renewed conversations about the legacy of empire. Thanks to the attention the royals command, the disintegration of British overseas rule is being documented in real time.

The signs weren’t looking good for William and Kate from the outset. The couple’s first official engagement, in Belize, was unceremoniously cancelled after protests from the Q’eqehi Maya people over a land dispute with a charity that William patronises. Heading to Jamaica, they were met with more demonstrations, this time calling on the royals to address the issue of reparations for the several hundred years they directly profited from the slave trade. Government officials backed up the sentiment, with Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, informing a solemn William and Kate that the country was “moving on’’ and wanted to be “independent”, seemingly following the example of Barbados. It’s no wonder the royals were gracing Sunday’s front pages in damage-limitation mode, with William offering a half-apology for the tour.

As ever, sometimes opening their mouths only makes things worse: in a speech given in Kingston last week, Prince William expressed “profound sorrow” for the transatlantic slave trade, but people were quick to point out that he stopped short of an apology or acknowledging the monarchy’s direct interests in slavery. At one point in history, enslaved Black Africans arriving in the Caribbean via the Royal African Company were branded with the initials “DY”, marking them as the property of the then Duke of York . Royal profiting from slavery continued apace – the future William IV even personally argued for the continuation of the trade in the House of Lords in 1799, a move that, according to historian Brooke Newman , helped “delay” abolition for a few more years but “misjudged the mood of the nation” – and damaged the reputation of the royal family as a result.

For the royals, the trip has been a sharp lesson in how people in the Commonwealth now perceive Britain and its institutions. As the Jamaican dancehall artist Beenie Man put it during an interview with ITV News : “We are just here, controlled by the British, ruled by the British law when you go in the court. It’s all about the Queen … but what are they doing for Jamaica? They’re not doing anything for us.” The Jamaican writer Ashley Rouen Brown summed up the grounds for resentment succinctly: Jamaicans, he wrote, are “currently the only citizens within the Commonwealth realm that require a visa to visit the land of their head of state”. Meanwhile, requests for financial reparations, in recognition of the impact centuries of plunder had on economic prospects, have been met with egregious responses, like David Cameron’s 2015 offer for Britain to finance a £25m prison to hold Jamaican “criminals” in lieu of compensation for slavery.

In Jamaica, republicanism has been part of the political conversation since the 1970s , and there is cross-party support for the move. But now, debate has been replaced by decision. Emancipation is in full swing. It’s no coincidence that it comes as the Queen – who “made the Commonwealth central to her life when she became monarch” – reaches the twilight of her reign. But nor can it be a coincidence that this is all happening after several years of governmental and monarchical misrule in London. The aftermath of the Windrush scandal still leaves a bitter taste. And, albeit on a different scale, it’s worth taking account of some more of Beenie Man’s words: “If Harry was coming, people would react different,” he said. “People are going to meet Harry.” In that sense, the royals really are the authors of their own misfortune.

But with or without the Sussexes, there is an air of historical inevitability to all this. So, what happens next? Ahead of Kate and William’s visit, the Windrush campaigner Patrick Vernon said: “If Jamaica decided it did [want to become a republic], there would be a domino effect on the rest of the English-speaking Caribbean .”

His words may well be prescient. The royal couple flew into the Bahamas, the last leg of their tour, to be greeted by protests on the ground and opposition from the likes of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee . Belize has announced a constitutional review, and late last year leaders including the St Vincent premier were urging fellow Commonwealth realms to attain republican status. The wheels seem firmly set in motion, with the royals’ open-backed Land Rover left spinning in the sand.

This kind of reckoning with reality is long overdue, and, who knows, it may even be a long-term positive for Britain if it helps disabuse our political class of its globe-trotting, Empire 2.0 fantasies. At the very least, now is the time to admit that for many parts of the world, the benefits of sovereign British rule are most heavily felt by the home nation itself. Within our own borders, we may kid ourselves that the monarchy is still a glittering jewel in our crown. But for many people overseas who wish to escape the long shadow of empire and exploitation, the shine has well and truly rubbed off.

This article was amended on 28 March 2022 because, in 1799, it was in the House of Lords that the future William IV argued for the continuation of the slave trade, not in the House of Commons as an earlier version said.

Moya Lothian-Mclean presents Human Resources, a podcast about the legacies of Britain’s slaving history

• Prince William
• Catherine, Princess of Wales
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The colossal cost of Prince William and Kate Middleton's 'disastrous' Caribbean tour revealed

The cost of William and Kate's Caribbean tour has been revealed and fans are shocked by the massive figure...

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The cost of William and Kate's Caribbean tour has astonished UK taxpayers as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge managed to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on travel.

• Prince William and Kate Middleton's Caribbean trip took place earlier this year in March 2022.
• The tour was considered a PR nightmare for the couple after a series of protests to the Royal couple's presence in the Caribbean.
• In other royal news , Lady Louise finishes exams as news of reduced grades puts university places at risk .

In March, Prince William and Catherine visited Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas as part of a Caribbean tour to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. It has now been revealed that this trip - which was considered disastrous by many critics and royal correspondents - has cost the UK taxpayers £226,000 (around $275k) in travel alone. 

During the tour, protesters claimed that Prince William and Kate Middleton are 'not welcome' in Jamaica as protests erupted demanding that the Royals should pay slavery reparations because of the historic role played by the Royal Family when it comes to colonialism.

This led many critics to claim that the tour was a PR disaster and the whole tour reeked of 'colonialism' and was completely 'tone-deaf'. Prince William's speech at a dinner hosted by Governor-General Sir Cornelius Smith addressed these claims, but still, the trip was considered a disaster. The failure of this tour has perhaps added to the shock that this disastrous trip cost taxpayers nearly a quarter of a million pounds. 

The cost of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's trip to the Caribbean has been revealed alongside the cost of travel for the Royal Family as a whole. 

£4.5 million of taxpayer money (through the Sovereign Grant) was spent by Royals traveling for official royal engagements between 2021 and 2022.

This £4.5 million includes the trip taken by Prince Charles to visit Barbados when the Queen was removed as Head of State and the country became a Republic. The Prince of Wales' charter flight and cost of travel of accompanying staff to mark this event cost £138,000. 

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£906,000 was also spent by royals on 179 official helicopter journeys during the year. Plus, £46,400 was spent by Her Majesty when she traveled on the royal train to Scotland. £45,200 was also spent by Prince William and Catherine in May 2021 when they also travelled to Scotland, but via charter flight and helicopter.

Laura is the Entertainment Editor for woman&home who primarily covers television, film, and celebrity news. Laura loves drinking and eating and can often be found trying to get reservations at London's trendiest restaurants. When she's not wining and dining, Laura can also be found travelling, baking, and hiking with her dog.

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William and Kate's Visit Makes Some Fear End of Royal Tour As We Know It

Prince William and Kate Middleton 's tour of the Caribbean has left a leading commentator remarking that "the days of the big royal overseas visit are surely numbered."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge set out to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II 's 70-year reign, but by the time they got on the plane home two out of their three destinations had indicated a desire to remove her as head of state.

Together with a number of unfortunate photo ops , Jan Moir, a columnist in the pro-royal Daily Mail , was just one spectator to consider the implications for the future of the monarchy.

She wrote: "What this week showed is that the days of the big royal overseas visit are surely numbered.

"The very idea that the Royal Family should sally forth, in all their finery and jewels, to faraway lands to meet people they expect to bow and curtsey to them, or pay homage at the very least, is an increasing absurdity.

"The royals on the road? It is like a band going on a farewell tour to play their greatest hits, only to discover that no one is listening any more, that the fans are moving to a different drumbeat. It is not over yet, not quite.

"However, this week we glimpsed the royal future post-Queen—and it is not looking bright."

She added: "Indeed, if Kate's glue-gun grin gets any more fixed, someone is going to have to chisel it off when she gets home."

She was not the only one. Peter Hunt, a former BBC royal correspondent, made a similar observation after seeing pictures of William and Kate being driven around in a Land Rover at a military parade in Kingston on March 24.

The couple stood upright on the back seat in a re-creation of a visit by his grandmother and grandfather, the Queen and Prince Philip, in 1953.

It’s an image that conjures up a colonial past at odds with a republic bound Jamaica and in our BLM, Windrush scandal world. They’ll never do a royal tour like this again. The fact they did, is a reminder of the price the royals are still paying for purging good advisors in 2017. pic.twitter.com/eD8vlg88Kt — Peter Hunt (@_PeterHunt) March 25, 2022

• Kate Middleton's Most Show-Stopping Outfits From Caribbean Tour
• Prince William and Kate's Caribbean Tour Has Been a Royal Disaster
• Princess Diana's Most Memorable Royal Tour Fashions

Hunt wrote on Twitter: "It's an image that conjures up a colonial past at odds with a republic bound Jamaica and in our BLM, Windrush scandal world. They'll never do a royal tour like this again. The fact they did, is a reminder of the price the royals are still paying for purging good advisors in 2017."

Criticism of the photos also caught the attention of popular political satirist Cold War Steve, who made Hunt's remarks somewhat more explicit in an image to his 387,600 followers.

pic.twitter.com/OLHxO3WbZG — Cold War Steve (@Coldwar_Steve) March 25, 2022

Beyond the awkward photos, there appear to be concrete consequences to the tour after first Jamaica and then Belize indicated potential moves to remove the queen as head of state.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness chose to tell William and Kate of his country's ambitions towards independence in person when he met them in Kingston on March 23.

He referenced protests calling for reparations and said: "There are issues here, which are, as you would know, unresolved. But your presence gives an opportunity for those issues to be placed in context, put front and center, and to be addressed."

He added: "And we're moving on. And we intend to attain, in short order, our development goals and fulfill our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country."

For more royal news and commentary check out Newsweek 's The Royal Report podcast:

Henry Charles Usher, government minister for public service, constitutional and political reform, told the Belize parliament on March 24 how a new constitutional commission will look into how the country is governed.

Quoted by Loop Caribbean News , he said: "Madame Speaker, the decolonization process is enveloping the Caribbean region.

"Perhaps it is time for Belize to take the next step in truly owning our independence. But it is a matter that the people of Belize must decide on."

Prince William and Kate confronted the backlash against their tour in a message on their official Twitter account.

They wrote: "Foreign tours are an opportunity to reflect. You learn so much. What is on the minds of Prime Ministers. The hopes and ambitions of school children. The day-to-day challenges faced by families and communities.

"I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future.

"In Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon. But we have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with communities in all three countries understanding more about the issues that matter most to them."

They added: "Catherine and I are committed to service. For us that's not telling people what to do. It is about serving and supporting them in whatever way they think best, by using the platform we are lucky to have."

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About the writer

Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles III, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—and hosts The Royal Report podcast . Jack joined Newsweek in 2020; he previously worked at The Sun, INS News and the Harrow Times. Jack has also appeared as a royal expert on CNN, MSNBC, Fox, ITV and commentated on King Charles III's coronation for Sky News. He reported on Prince Harry and Meghan's royal wedding from inside Windsor Castle. He graduated from the University of East Anglia. Languages: English.

You can find him on Twitter at @jack_royston and his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page .

You can get in touch with Jack by emailing [email protected].

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

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William and Kate's Caribbean Tour: What went wrong?

• Duke of Cambridge
• Duchess of Cambridge
• Saturday 26 March 2022 at 12:31am

Royal Editor

ITV News Royal Editor reports on a Royal tour plagued by controversy and criticism

The Duchess of Cambridge joked that she and Prince William had brought the British weather with them to the Bahamas as they arrived at a school in a huge downpour on Friday.

But the weather has been the least of their problems.

They are spending two days in this Commonwealth Realm at the end of a week-long Caribbean tour that’s proved to be more than a little bumpy.

So what went wrong?

William and Kate would have expected some turbulence in Jamaica where there is a heated debate about reparations and slavery and about becoming a republic.

But the couple also suffered the ignominy of listening to a talk from the Jamaican Prime Minister in front of the cameras when he effectively said that he wants Jamaica to ditch the Queen as Head of State.

Then campaigners for becoming a republic said William and Kate were simply evoking images of the colonial past when the duke - in his military tropical uniform - rode on top of a Land Rover with the duchess.

There were protests over land rights in Belize at a cacao farm the Duke and Duchess were due visit.

And they were criticised – although in my opinion unfairly – after a picture showed William and Kate shaking hands with Jamaicans through a wire fence.

Given that Raheem Sterling had done the same – and it was simply a perimeter fence around a football pitch – it showed how context can be totally lost on social media (and they did a walkabout moments afterwards in the street – with no fences).

You can see why this Royal Tour has been far from straightforward.

But what is a straightforward royal tour now? And what place do they have in 2022 when members of the Royal Family, chosen by dint of birth, tour former colonies thousands of miles from home?

The truth is, things have changed since the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh toured the nations of the Commonwealth , when the Monarch was still travelling overseas.

I recall Prince Harry, more than once, looking distinctly uncomfortable as he was forced to sit in the VIP chair, the cameras trained on him, as he watched traditional ceremonies and dancing.

Perhaps it’s a moment to ask what these tours are for and what benefit they bring for either side.

Be in no doubt – the schools or projects or charities which have hosted William and Kate have considered it a great honour.

They’ve enjoyed the attention the visit brings, the support they have given and would have the royal visitors back in a flash.

The family who ran the cacao farm in Belize – which replaced the one with the protest – could not have been happier to host William and Kate and, through them, show the world what they do so well.

A Mayan temple deep in the Belizean jungle might well get the worldwide admiration it deserves after the Cambridges stopped by.

A school which focuses on the early years, was delighted that Kate, who focuses much of her work on the development of children aged 0-5, came to learn about their work, share her knowledge and make a speech to staff.

The barrier reef projects in The Bahamas and Belize would give much the same response about William’s work on these environmental issues.

But there have been moments too when the tour has looked like it belonged to an era most of the world left a long time ago.

“It looks like something from the 1800s”, one campaigner in Jamaica told me of William and Kate’s ride in the Land Rover.

Should William have acknowledged the republic debate and told his audience that he and his grandmother, The Queen, would support Jamaica, or Belize or The Bahamas (which she does) in whatever decision they choose to make about their constitutional futures.

In Jamaica, a country which saw the largest number of slaves in the British West Indies, some questioned the wisdom of William talking about the Windrush generation without acknowledging that, it too, was a stain on Britain’s more recent past.

And when the staff of the Royal Household is almost exclusively white (as I should point out was the media pack covering this tour and the military personnel flying us all around) it gives the impression that this institution has not moved on.

Since the Black Lives Matter campaign, and the pandemic, everyone is looking anew at our relationships with the past and how that impacts the present.

People might forgive The Queen for appearing out of date, or indulging herself on visits of memories of times gone by.

But she is nearly 96 years old and brings with her many, many years of accumulated respect and experience.

Newspapers will write about a “Tour de Farce”, they might call it a “tone-deaf tour”, but when William and Kate debrief this trip with their staff, they will need to examine why some things went wrong and what they can do differently.

Always nodding back to outdated traditions leaves the Monarchy open to the charge that the institution is out of date and backward-looking.

What is the point of royal tours in 2022?

Royal aides will need to find a way to reorientate these visits to Commonwealth countries and beyond, so that they focus overwhelmingly on the future and not the past.

William and Kate cancel trip on Caribbean tour after protest from Belize villagers over 'colonial legacy'

Residents of Indian Creek village reportedly voiced opposition to the royals' visit due to a dispute involving a charity William supports and plans to land the Cambridges' helicopter on a local football pitch.

Saturday 19 March 2022 10:03, UK

William and Kate have cancelled a major engagement planned for the start of their Caribbean tour after villagers staged a protest over the royals' visit.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were due to tour a cacao farm in Belize during the first full day of their tour on Sunday, but the event has now been removed from the schedule by their office.

The issue threatens to overshadow the start of the couple's eight-day tour to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and raises questions about the planning of the trip.

Demonstrators had voiced opposition to the royals' visit due to a dispute over "contested property" between residents of Indian Creek village and Flora and Fauna International (FFI), the conservation charity that William supports as patron.

The landing site for the Cambridges' helicopter reportedly caused further problems amid claims residents were not consulted about the location, which is on the local football pitch, according to local Belize media outlet Channel 7.

A protest was reportedly staged on Friday opposing the royal visit to Akte 'il Ha cacao farm.

Photographs posted on social media showed demonstrators holding signs including one which read: "Colonial legacy of theft continues with Prince & FFI."

Image from today’s protest at Indian Creek, Belize: “Colonial Legacy of THEFT continues with Prince & FFI” (ref to Flora and Fauna International, in dispute over communal land rights) Photo from Maya Culture Belize FB pic.twitter.com/uYYYylSG4P — Kate Quinn (@KateQuinnUCL) March 18, 2022

Sebastian Shol, chairman of Indian Creek village, told the Daily Mail: "We don't want them to land on our land, that's the message that we want to send. They could land anywhere but not on our land."

A Kensington Palace spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that due to sensitive issues involving the community in Indian Creek, the visit has been moved to a different location - further details will be provided in due course."

The Belize government said in a statement: "Indian Creek was one of several sites being considered. Due to issues in the village, the Government of Belize activated its contingency planning and another venue has been selected to showcase Maya family entrepreneurship in the cacao industry."

Analysis by Rhiannon Mills, royal correspondent

These high profile royal tours are always planned so carefully but there are some things even the palace can't control - and one of them is people's feelings.

Without even stepping foot in Belize yet, William and Kate's arrival appears to have caused some upset.

From a PR perspective, the fact that it involves the first major engagement of their tour to a cacao farm isn't ideal.

But as they embark on this trip to three Commonwealth realms - Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas - it's a reminder of the complex issues at play in all three countries when it comes to their relationships with the UK.

The objections to their farm visit are tied up with issues over land and involve echoes of Britain's colonial past.

As they move on to Jamaica they're likely to have to confront the calls for the island to become a republic.

It certainly won't be the first time that William and Kate have faced difficult conversations on a royal tour.

How much they will publicly acknowledge those issues, we can only wait and see.

Channel 7 said the background to the situation centred on tensions between citizens and the state about the "meaning of consent in the context of communal land rights - rights to lands that were expunged in the colonial period by the British".

Voyager, the ministerial jet, will fly the Cambridges throughout their tour along with their 15-strong entourage, which is likely to include Kate's hairdresser Amanda Cook Tucker and other personal staff, along with private secretaries and their press office team.

Highlights of the couple's tour will see them renew their friendly sporting rivalry when they take to the waters for a sailing regatta in the Bahamas in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

In Jamaica, the Cambridges are due to celebrate the island's musical and sporting heritage amid speculation Usain Bolt may be involved.

Related Topics

• Duchess of Cambridge
• Prince William
• Royal Family

Prince William, Kate face protests on Caribbean tour

Prince William and Kate are touring the Caribbean on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.

Prince William and Duchess Kate are facing protests as they continue their week-long tour of the Caribbean to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee .

William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were forced to cancel one of their first stops in Belize over the weekend when protests broke out ahead of their arrival.

The protests, led by indigenous people, some holding signs against colonialism, prompted the couple to visit another local cocoa farm instead of the one they originally planned to tour in the foothills of the Maya Mountains.

On Tuesday, the day of William and Kate's arrival in Jamaica, dozens of protesters gathered in Kingston to protest the visit.

A group known as the Advocates Network, which describes itself as a "non-partisan alliance of individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and good governance," has published an open letter protesting the royals' visit , saying that British rule has "perpetuated the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind."

"During her 70 years on the throne, your grandmother has done nothing to redress and atone for the suffering of our ancestors that took place during her reign and/or during the entire period of British trafficking of Africans, enslavement, indentureship and colonialization," reads the letter, which was signed by 100 Jamaican leaders, activists and scholars.

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The group also took to Twitter, publishing in a thread 60 reasons why they say an apology is due to the country, a nod to Jamaica celebrating the 60th anniversary of its independence later this year.

Roselea Hamilton, founding Director of the Institute of Law and Economics in Jamaica, and member of the coordinating committee for the Advocates Network, told ABC News that she views the protest against the royal visit as an opportunity to highlight the changing sentiments in Jamaicans and throughout the Caribbean towards the British monarch.

“I think the Black Lives Matter movement sparked something among people of African descent across the world…It's not simply limited to an expression in the United States," said Hamilton. "We think that it's time to come to grips with the implications of these institutions. It's not simply about what the government does or doesn't do, it's about how we as Jamaican people interact with each other, how we minimize violent relationships. It's about how we see ourselves in the future, in a world that demands that we engage on different terms."

“We encouraged and invited Jamaicans to come and take a stand to bring attention to what has happened in the past and to bring attention to the royal visiting couple about what is our feeling today 60 years after the independence of colonial domination," she continued. "We see it as a fitting time to begin a new conversation with the royal family and Britain, as we advocate actively to end formally, the leadership of our country to the British crown as head of state."

Hamilton continued, "As we move into a phase where we become a republic, we need a different conversation about what that means. It cannot simply mean the removal of the head of states. I think many of us are of the view that we have to go beyond. We have to tackle the institutional legacies.”

William and Kate have so far not commented on the controversy.

As monarch, Queen Elizabeth is the head of the British Commonwealth, representing 54 nations, including Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, which William and Kate will visit next.

MORE: Duchess Kate slides down kids' slide in solo visit to Denmark

Another Caribbean country, Barbados, became a republic last year , no longer pledging allegiance to the queen.

Queen Elizabeth's oldest son, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, delivered a speech in Barbados at its independence ceremony, referencing Britain's colonial past during which people were trafficked from Africa to the Caribbean.

"From the darkest days of our past, and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude," said Charles. "Emancipation, self-government and independence were your way-points. Freedom, justice and self-determination have been your guides. Your long journey has brought you to this moment, not as your destination, but as a vantage point from which to survey a new horizon."

MORE: Prince William and Kate go on their 1st royal walkabout since pandemic

William and Kate's visit to the Caribbean this week is meant to thank people there for their support of Queen Elizabeth during her 70-year reign, the longest in Britain's history.

"It’s more to support them and say thanks for all the support they’ve given the queen," said Robert Jobson, an ABC News royal contributor, adding that William and Kate are implementing "soft-power diplomacy" on the tour.

In Belize, in addition to visiting a cocoa farm, William and Kate danced with locals and attended a special reception held by the country's governor general.

In Jamaica, William and Kate are scheduled to meet with the governor general of Jamaica as well as the prime minister, in addition to other engagements, including visiting a school and hospital.

The Caribbean tour marks William and Kate's first joint foreign tour since the start of the coronavirus pandemic two years ago.

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William and Kate’s hidden intentions for their Caribbean tour is why it backfired

The Royal Family’s Instagram is flooded with editorialized happy photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their first tour in the Caribbean. In the past week, we’ve seen them casually hanging with the locals, meeting with dignitaries and government officials, and even attending formal dinners and parades. Officially, they’ve been welcomed with decorum and excitement as representatives of Queen Elizabeth II, who is still head of Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas, three of the Commonwealth countries they’ve visited in this quick tour. But what was the reason behind this ‘idyllic’ trip?

The official motive behind the Caribbean tour is to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth; that is her 70 years on the throne of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth (which, by the way, has reduced considerably during these long seven decades). But, as it happens with politics, there’s another reason behind it that isn’t as friendly as it appears to be. Just a couple of months ago, Barbados, a former Commonwealth nation, announced its formal independence from the Commonwealth and removed Queen Elizabeth as head of state. Although the resolution seemed amicable and even Prince Charles was invited to the celebrations, there’s no doubt that the Crown still holds some of its colonial spirits and will do its best to ensure the remaining Commonwealth nations stay that way. Enter William and Kate.

The English monarchy is going through a difficult time of uncertainty. The passing of Prince Philip only reminded the people that Queen Elizabeth is not getting any younger. At 96 (a month away from turning 96) the Queen’s health condition has decreased. She’s canceled public appearances and she’s officially moved her residency to Windsor’s Castle, which means she’s putting some distance from Buckingham and the Parliament. The idea of the Queen passing makes the UK vulnerable, especially considering that Prince Charles and Camilla aren’t precisely that loved among their people. Not only, that, but increasing anti-monarchic movements also threaten the stability of the Crown as it has only happened a very few times in history. So what’s to do?

The answer is exploiting the idea of the most beloved members of the Royal Family to increase their popularity among the Commonwealth nations and avoid them following the steps of Barbados and using this vulnerability to finally achieve independence after centuries. Now, this was destined to fail since the beginning and the main reason is that the Crown seems to be working exactly the same way they did decades ago while being reluctant to see what these nations need and want. In other words, the Crown still perpetuates their colonial practices and fails to see that this system of obedience is no longer viable nor ethical.

Among the three visited countries, it was Jamaica the one that didn’t comply that easily. As a matter of fact, Jamaica had already begun a separation process from the monarchy, so they had to act fast. It was obvious since it was announced that the people in general no longer want to be part of a political system that keeps pushing them back. A group of influential politicians, academics, and people, in general, signed an open letter asking the monarchy for an apology and the reparations payment for centuries of subjecting Jamaica to a colonial rule including slavery. Just to put into perspective, Jamaica has Queen Elizabeth as head of their government, yet Jamaicans have to get visas to visit the UK. That’s not a shared government nor are they part of the so-called brotherhood of nations that’s colonialism it all its might. Naturally, having the golden couple shoving their faces while mingling with the crowds (behind a barbed wire… yep, they didn’t see the problem with that) won’t fix centuries of an abusive and advantageous relationship.

Prince William’s answer, considering that he had previously stated that they’re not a racist family (which they are), was that he felt a “profound sorrow for the appalling atrocity of slavery.” The statement, which is far from being an apology from a person who still gloats from the benefits of slavery and colonialism, wasn’t well received in the country who replied that “there was no responsibility taken! No call out of centuries of British bloody conquest and plunder.”

All in all, on Instagram they will say it was a fruitful and amicable tour where William and Kate so humbly got to absorb the cultural riches of these countries, but in fact, it has only proven that the monarchy isn’t willing to accept that they have that position of power due to centuries of abuse and crimes against humanity nor that they are willing to make reparations and change their ways.

The Queen is the pillar that’s holding up this mess of institutions together, but none of the first on the line of succession will likely be capable of saving the monarchy without perpetuating their old, unethical, and outdated ways.

Isabel Carrasco

History buff, crafts maniac, and makeup lover!

© Cultura Colectiva 2023

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Prince William Gave a Heartfelt Update on Kate Middleton's Cancer Treatment

The Prince of Wales has returned to royal life.

Prince William made his official return to his royal duties on April 18 by working with Surplus to Supper — a charity organization that delivers, sorts and repackages unused food for communities in need — and provided an update about Kate's cancer treatment while interacting with the organization's employees.

During the tour of the Surplus to Supper facilities, volunteer Rachel Candappa gave him two special cards, one for King Charles and one for Kate Middleton. According to Express , William looked "visibly moved" and told her, "Thank you, you are very kind." Speaking with the outlet, Candappa added, “I said take care of her and he said ‘I will.’"

Royal reporter Rebecca English corroborated the claims, sharing videos from William's day at work to X. "Prince William promised to ‘look after’ the Princess of Wales as he made his first public appearance since her cancer announcement and was handed get well soon cards addressed to the King and Kate. He also delivered food surplus packages with volunteers from Surplus to Supper," she tweeted .

The visit to Surplus to Supper marked William's first engagement since Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis on March 22. The royal was with Middleton and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, for three and a half weeks following the news and through the Easter holiday. "Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too," she said in her announcement video, adding, "We hope that you’ll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment."

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Prince William Supports Veterans Bereaved by Suicide with Same Message Kate Middleton Used in Cancer News

"There is no time limit to processing grief, but Catherine and I know the power that comes from sharing experiences, even in the most tragic of circumstances," the Prince of Wales wrote

Janine Henni is a Royals Staff Writer for PEOPLE Digital, covering modern monarchies and the world's most famous families. Like Queen Elizabeth, she loves horses and a great tiara moment.

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Prince William is reminding military veterans and their families affected by suicide that they are not alone.

On April 17, Suicide Bereavement U.K. published At Your Side guides for veterans and families, serving as a resource for those bereaved by suicide during or after military service. The materials were commissioned by the National Health Service of England, and the Prince of Wales, 41, wrote the heartfelt opening.

Prince William concluded the message with the same words that Kate Middleton , 42, used during her emotional video address on March 22 revealing she was undergoing treatment for cancer .

"Please know that you are not alone," William wrote, echoing his wife's message to "all those whose lives have been affected by cancer" when she said, "You are not alone."

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Prince William began the foreword, which was featured in both guides, "At times of national and international crisis we look to our Armed Forces to provide help, support and stability. Members of our Armed Forces never shy away from a challenge – harnessing their skills and working together to help others. But in times of great challenge, it can be tempting to hide one's own needs."

"Few of us will go through our lives without experiencing the loss of someone we love. Thankfully, suicide is rare within the Armed Forces community, but for those bereaved by suicide, this loss can be a complex and long-term experience," he continued. "Often the stigma surrounding suicide can prevent those affected from speaking out and seeking help."   

"I hope this guide will act as a vital source of guidance and support, helping those who are impacted by suicide to process their loss, during what can be dark days of grief," Prince William wrote. 

The royal and Royal Air Force veteran thanked those whose feedback inspired the guides, and the expert team that took it to fruition. The resources are based on the experiences and needs of participants in the Armed Forces Suicide Bereavement Study. The group grieved the death of a friend, colleague, spouse, partner, adult child, parent or sibling during or after military service due to suicide. Experts in military mental health, suicide prevention and bereavement then helped produce the materials available for free download.

"There is no time limit to processing grief, but Catherine and I have met many bereaved families over the years and know the power that comes from sharing experiences, even in the most tragic of circumstances," Prince William continued, referring to his wife.

Suicide Bereavement U.K. specializes in suicide bereavement research and the development of evidence-based support materials for the bereaved. A third At Your Side guide is also in the works for serving personnel.

Mental health is a key focus of The Royal Foundation , the charity for Prince William and Princess Kate’s nonprofit work. The couple memorably launched the Heads Together campaign through The Royal Foundation with Prince Harry in 2016 to smash stigmas surrounding conversations and help with mental health and have continued raising awareness ever since.

The Prince of Wales has further honed on combating the suicide rate among men in the U.K., in addition to his work advocating for the armed forces community. Prince William previously served as a pilot with the Royal Air Force and as an air ambulance helicopter pilot and is actively connected to the military today through his honorary colonelcy of the Welsh Guards.

Prince William paid a private visit to members of the regiment at Combermere Barracks near Windsor in March, where he learned more about the positive impact of the Welsh Guards’ physical and mental rehabilitation programs. The Prince of Wales also checked out the facilities and learned about planned improvements while spending time with soldiers, medics and physical training instructors.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 

Prince William is set to return to royal duties this week for the first time since Princess Kate announced that she is receiving cancer treatment.

On April 18, the Prince of Wales will highlight the work of community and environmental organizations in southwest London and Surrey on the day after Prince George , Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis return to school following the Easter holiday. 

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