Prince William says monarchy would support Caribbean nations seeking independence - ABC News

Prince William says the royal family supports Caribbean nations deciding to cut ties with the monarchy.

Key points:

• Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica are all currently considering leaving the Commonwealth
• Prince William acknowledged the relationship between the three Caribbean states and the Crown was changing
• The royal couple have faced protests and calls for reparations during their tour

Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica are all currently considering leaving the Commonwealth and cutting ties with the British monarchy.

At the end of a Caribbean tour with his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William acknowledged the relationship between the three Caribbean states and the Crown was changing.

"Next year, I know you are all looking forward to celebrating 50 years of independence – your golden anniversary," he said in a speech in the Bahamas capital Nassau.

"I want to say this: We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future. Relationships evolve, friendship endures."

The pair spent seven days touring the Caribbean without their children.(Pool: Chris Jackson via Reuters)

His speech is the clearest indication the royal family would back the three nations removing Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state, echoing a decision by Barbados last November.

Usually, Buckingham Palace says such matters are for the local people and politicians to decide.

During the Queen's 70 years on the throne — a landmark that the tour was to designed to mark — a number of former British colonies have cut their ties.

Fifteen countries have retained the Queen as their head of state, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

However, the tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has thrown a spotlight on the waning support for the monarchy in the Caribbean.

Protesters were waiting for the royal couple at several stops along the tour.(Reuters: Toby Melville)

During an earlier stop in Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told Prince William directly that his country wanted to be independent.

Throughout the trip, the duke and duchess were met with numerous protests and calls for reparations payments by Britain and an apology for slavery.

Some media have criticised public relations mistakes which have seen the royals shaking hands with Jamaican children through wire fences and other appearances due to connotations associated with colonial times.

The Bahamas is the final leg of the duke and duchess' week-long royal tour of Central America and the Caribbean.

This moment in which the couple greeted children through a fence was criticised by some in the media for its colonial connotations.(Pool: Chris Jackson via Reuters)

Reuters

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2022-03-27 02:37:59Z
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