caribbeantour

A heavy downpour was not the only occurrence to dampen Prince William and Kate’s Bahamas tour as they honor Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the British throne.

Rastafarians assembled near the Sybil Strachan School where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were to appear, protesting their visit and demanding reparations for the enslavement of African people.

WATCH THIS: Demonstrators singing outside the Sybil Strachan Primary School ahead of the first stop on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s royal visit in The Bahamas. #platinumjubilee #dukeandduchessofcambridge pic.twitter.com/0c6BH6DN6z

— Eyewitness News Bahamas (@ewnewsbahamas) March 25, 2022

Priest Marcus of the House of Rastafari in the Bahamas said, “The Bahamas is still under colonial rule and the Westminster system but we, as Rastas, don’t serve the system or the Queen. We can never forget slavery or the atrocities done to my people from the royal family,”

“We’re looking forward to an official apology and reparations—many Bahamians feel the same way. 400 years of slavery can’t be forgotten easily just like that; the damage has to be repaired.”

They were joined by a group representing abused women who sought to bring attention to their plight.

Both groups huddled together holding placards while singing songs.

As William and Kate appeared, the couple was met with torrents of rain using umbrellas to shield themselves from the downpour.

They were later escorted to Parliament Square to greet COVID-19 frontline workers. Though the rain held up for a brief period, it came down heavily as they greeted fans Down Town where a Junkanoo celebration was held.

HAPPENING NOW: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted with Junkanoo as it makes its long-awaited return to Bay Street. #theroyalvisitbahamas pic.twitter.com/JlrDiY4GCf

— OURnews Bahamas (@OurNewsRev) March 25, 2022

Having toured Belize and Jamaica over the past week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the Bahamas on Thursday afternoon to honor Queen Elizabeth’s 70-years on the British throne.

The couple was greeted by a little girl and received a ceremonial welcome.

Their tour of the Caribbean has been marked with controversy over the British monarchy’s tie to slavery and colonialism.

There is a growing call for reparations. William while in Jamaica expressed “profound sorrow” at the atrocity of slavery.”

Some believe the Caribbean tour is to persuade island nations to remain with the British monarchy due to some countries choosing to become a republic.

While in the sunny isles, the couple will take part in a sailing regatta, meet with Earthshot prize winners and meet Bahamians at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Royal tours are landmark events for Buckingham Palace, requiring the participation of many members of the royal family and their aids.

When Prince William and his wife Kate travel to the Bahamas on Thursday, after visiting Belize and Jamaica, they are bringing an entourage of 15 to the sunny isles.

The entourage will include private secretaries, a hairdresser, and the press team.

It is a momentous occasion for Queen Elizabeth II who is celebrating 70 years on the British throne and she has sent the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to act on her behalf as part of the festivities.

In 2016 when William and Kate visited Canada with their children, each of the couple’s private secretaries went along: William’s private secretary Miguel Head and assistant private secretary Laura Baker, Kate’s private secretary Rebecca Deacon.

Others included tour secretary Kate Mager, an operations manager who helped with logistics such as loading luggage, hairdresser Amanda Cook-Tucker, stylist Natasha Archer, and babysitter Maria Borrallo.

Press Secretary Jason Knauf and three other press officers accompanied them on their trip. They ensured proper communications with both foreign and local media while managing the social media accounts.

On their trip to the Caribbean, the couple’s three children will stay behind at Kensington Palace with their babysitter.

Feature Image: Chris Jackson/ Getty Image

After growing tension in Belize and a slight change in plans, Prince William and Kate arrived in Belize, greeted by the national guard. This begins the 8-day tour of three Caribbean countries–Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Changes were made to their schedule when villagers protested the royal couple’s visitation to a coca farm which is in a tug of war with Fauna and Flora International, of which William is a patron.

Villagers were also angry that Prince William’s plane was planned to land on a field within their community.

Belize media reports that despite the controversy, the couple was greeted warmly when they arrived in the country on Saturday afternoon.

Prince William and Kate’s Caribbean Tour was marred by protest in Belize as the couple begins their Caribbean tour in honor of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Villagers protested the visitation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their cacao farm forcing the event to be removed from the schedule by their office.

Villagers are in dispute over “contested property” between residents of Indian Creek village and Flora and Fauna International (FFI), the conservation charity that William supports as a patron.

Residents also claimed they were not consulted about the landing site of the royal couple’s helicopter which is a local football pitch field.

Chairman of Indian Creek village, Sebastian Shol said, “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.”

Dionisio Shol, a youth leader in the community told 7NewsBelize, “Imagine you going to Kenisington palace, you can’t just show up there. You have to dialogue and see if you even can go. So reverse it in our role, and say, why would the state be aiding [them]. It’s like the state is aiding these colonial masters by doing that to us.”

The Kensington Palace 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 it will move the visitation to another location.

After the Belize trip, the couple will travel to Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Why it matters

It brings to light the growing tension between British colonies and their relationship with the royal family as countries with the Queen as head of state, begin to question their colonial past.

Photo credit: Rebecca English/Daily Mail