Prince William and Kate Middleton’s turbulent Caribbean tour has been described by some as “tone deaf” and the last day the royal couple visited a church on the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas badly hit by Hurricane Dorian
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Will and Kate: Russell Myers discusses controversy during royal tour of Jamaica
Prince William today took a historic step forward for the Royal Family in an astonishing statement over the protest-hit Caribbean tour.
The second in line to the throne said his job is “not telling people what to do” and added: “Who the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in future isn’t what is on my mind.”
The Duke of Cambridge delivered the starkly honest review of his and Kate’s eight-day tour to Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas after a series of PR disasters raised questions over the future of the monarchy’s role in the region.
In the extraordinary soul-searching statement, Wills said he accepted his future will be shaped on how he and wife Kate are perceived around the world, not their royal standing
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He said: “This tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and future.
“In Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon.
“Foreign tours are an opportunity to reflect. You learn so much.
“What is on the minds of prime ministers. The hopes and ambitions of schoolchildren.
“The day-to-day challenges faced by families and communities.
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We have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with communities in all three countries, understanding more about the issues that matter most to them.”
Then he went further than any other member of the Royal Family has acknowledged before, adding: “Catherine and I are committed to service.
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“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.
“It is why tours such as this reaffirm our desire to serve the people of the Commonwealth and to listen to communities around the world.”
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The statement was written in response to a visit described as “tone deaf ” after images of them trying to shake hands with Jamaican children through a wire fence went viral, even though it happened because the couple were inside a football pitch perimeter.
Their decision to ride in an opentopped Land Rover, used by the Queen and Prince Philip at a military parade in the 60s, was criticised as an uncomfortable reminder of a more deferential time.
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Later, at a dinner hosted by the Governor General of The Bahamas, William is believed to have changed his speech, acknowledging how he and the rest of the Royal Family “respect your decisions about your future. Relationships evolve . Friendship endures”.
It came after the couple had faced antimonarchy protests on the tour.
Caribbean nations have started the process of becoming republics.
On the final day today William and Kate focused on what they do best – winning hearts and minds
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They visited a church and memorial on The Bahamas’ Abaco Islands badly hit by Hurricane Dorian in 2019 before attending a traditional fish fry.
They were later due to fly to Grand Bahama, visiting a children’s home before a trip to Coral Vita, one of five inaugural winners of the Duke’s 2021 global environmental project, The Earthshot Prize.
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