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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

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to arrive in the Bahamas today, the final leg of their Caribbean tour.  But many believe their visit is to strengthen the monarchy as some island nations consider removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state.

It’s been four months since Barbados became a republic following in the footsteps of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Dominica.

Now Jamaica is in discussions to do the same. On Wednesday during Williams’ visit to the country, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told him “we’re moving on.”

“We intend to fulfill our true ambition of being an independent, fully developed and prosperous country.”

Before the visit, reports circulated that Holness had already given instructions to reform his country’s constitution to make the island-nation a republic.

Cries have become louder as more Caribbean nations express their willingness to abandon Britain while citizens have condemned its association with the slave trade and colonialism.

At the ceremony in Barbados marking the country’s transition, Williams’ father Prince Charles acknowledged the “appalling atrocity of slavery which forever stains our history.”

Though Barbados has become a republic, it still remains part of the Commonwealth nations.

The Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife the Countess of Wessex will visit other Caribbean countries in April– Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Photo credit: Belle on Twitter (The couple on a parade in Jamaica before leaving for the Bahamas)