Kate’s Caribbean charm offensive! Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize next month in 12-day tour to shore up support for the monarchy
- Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will go on a 12-day tour of the Caribbean
- William and Kate will visit the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize next month
- The royal charm offensive in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
- Comes at a critical time as Commonwealth countries debate independence
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will launch a royal charm offensive in the Caribbean next month in a bid to shore up support for the monarchy in the region.
William, 39, and Kate, 40, will tour the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize as they move to prevent further nations from leaving the Commonwealth in the wake of Barbados’ decision to remove the Queen, 95, as head of state and become a republic.
The visit – the couple’s first major joint overseas tour since before the pandemic – also coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Caribbean next month in a royal charm offensive to shore up support for the monarchy in the year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Pictured, the couple in London in December
The couple will spend roughly 12 days in the region and their engagements will have an environmental focus, according to the Daily Telegraph.
It comes after representatives for the Cambridges were spotted in Belize on the paradise island of Ambergris Caye in what locals said was an ‘advance party’ preparing for a Royal tour in the spring.
The Duke of Cambridge served in Belize, in Central America, with the Welsh Guards.
A source on the island told the Mail On Sunday: ‘Their people were very secretive and kept saying this had to be kept very quiet, but on a small island like Ambergris Caye it’s impossible to keep anything quiet for very long.
‘They were talking about a four-day visit to Belize in March as part of a longer trip to this part of the world. They said William and Kate might visit the Caye and also go to mainland Belize. It’s all anyone here is talking about. We are so excited.’
Other stops reportedly include Coral Vita in the Bahamas, a coral farm focused on reef restoration that was last year named one of the five £1 million winners of the Duke’s inaugural Earthshot Prize.
William, 39, and Kate, 40, will tour the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize as they move to prevent further nations from leaving the Commonwealth in the wake of Barbados’ decision to remove the Queen as head of state and become a republic. Pictured, in the Solomon Islands in 2012
A visit from two of the most glamorous Royals would shore up crucial support for the Monarchy in the region.
In November, Prince Charles visited Barbados for a ceremony to mark its historic decision to remove the Queen as head of state.
Other Commonwealth countries in the region, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Dominica, already have their own heads of state.
Last year, John Briceno, the Prime Minister of Belize, did not rule out his nation following suit, saying: ‘We need to find what fits Belize best.’
The last high-profile Royal visit to Belize – as well as the Bahamas and Jamaica – was made by Prince Harry in 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
He attended a street party, sampled the local rum and opened a road renamed in his grandmother’s honour.
The last high-profile Royal visit to Belize – as well as the Bahamas and Jamaica – was made by Prince Harry in 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Pictured, Harry in the Bahamas
The Queen is pictured in Belize in 1985. A visit from two of the most glamorous Royals would shore up crucial support for the Monarchy in the region
A decade on, with Harry and Prince Andrew having stepped back from Royal responsibilities, there are far fewer members of the family able to carry out official duties on behalf of the 95-year-old Queen.
‘This leaves more work for the Cambridges, and Charles and Camilla,’ said a Palace insider.
‘You can’t underestimate the importance of a visit by Charles, because the heir to the throne will always outrank other senior Royals, but at the same time you can’t deny that the Cambridges have a certain stardust.’
A source in Belize said: ‘When Barbados declared independence there was a lot of talk in Belize about us going the same way. But we love the Queen.
In November, Prince Charles visited Barbados (above) for a ceremony to mark its historic decision to remove the Queen as head of state
‘We have photographs of her in every government building and there is a great deal of affection for her as a person, even if some of the younger generation are leaning away from the Monarchy. William and Kate coming to visit us would be a huge triumph.’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are returning to overseas travel after being largely grounded due to Covid-19. Prince William visited Dubai last week and Kate is jetting off to Copenhagen next week.
Kensington Palace declined to comment to the Daily Telegraph. MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
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