Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge left Belize for Jamaica on day 4 of their Caribbean Tour, yesterday March 22. Upon arrival in Jamaica, the couple visited the Governor-General of Jamaica and a Sports and Cultural Event in Trench Town.
Before heading out from Belize, Kensington Palace released a video and images of William and Kate scuba diving the Belize barrier reef. They wrote on IG:
Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world. While the effects of climate change are evident, the Government of Belize and communities across the country deserve huge recognition for their efforts to restore this incredible marine environment – with a commitment to protect 30% of it by 2030.
On Sunday, we were lucky enough to spend time diving at South Water Caye, directly above the spectacular Belize Barrier Reef. It was a privilege to see for ourselves the world-leading ocean conservation work being done here.
KP IG
Side note: Kate went diving wearing that giant sapphire ring??
Then the couple departed Belize for Jamaica.
Embed from Getty ImagesKate wore a very plane-appropriate outfit of a vintage red Yves Saint Laurent coat (which she purchased when she was at uni) and white trousers. While I will never like boob flaps (why, designers, why???), I think this is an excellent choice for a plane departure.
Embed from Getty ImagesMuch less place appropriate was the outfit she chose for her arrival in Jamaica. Upon arrival at Kingston Norman Manley International Airport, Kate chose this gorgeous yellow Roksanda dress with a large bow. She also wore Sézane Celeste mother of pearl earrings.
Embed from Getty ImagesBecause it was so windy at the airport, Kate was awkwardly holding her dress down so it wouldn’t fly away.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot gonna lie, I LOVE this yellow outfit from Kate – the dress is cute, the ponytail looks nice, and the white accessories are lovely and really come alive against yellow dress. And I’m so bummed that Kate wore it to deplane! UGH it’s been 10 years! How does she not know the best types of outfits for deplaning???
Even with the wind, this is probably my favorite outfit from Kate so far, but I’m just so bummed that she wore it when it was so windy instead of to an event guaranteed to have less wind.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnyway, at the airport, William and Kate were met by dignitaries including the British High Commissioner to Jamaica (Her Excellency Ms. Judith Slater) and Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith (Representative of the Prime Minister of Jamaica). William also inspected the Guard of Honor.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter the airport, William and Kate traveled to King’s House in Kingston where they met with the Governor-General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, and his wife, Lady Allen.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe final event of the day was a Sports and Cultural Event at Trench Town Culture Yard in Kingston.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile there, William and Kate met with the the Jamaica National bobsleigh team.
Embed from Getty ImagesPrince William specifically asked to meet the bobsleighers, knowing the story of the team that captivated the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
[Chris] Stokes, 58, president of the Jamaican Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, was impressed with the couple. “It’s a tough job but you could see it wasn’t their first rodeo,” he says. “They are quite composed and very gracious and represented their country very well. That’s important for the modern-day monarchy — they presented themselves with humility and graciousness. They knew a little bit more about us than we knew about them. They treated the entire situation with a great deal of respect which is important regardless of the situation.”
Fenlator-Victorian, who competed in the recent Winter Olympics in Beijing says: “They were really down to earth, warm and super genuine. They talked about one day having bobsleigh in the Commonwealth Games.”
“It means a lot for the community and all of Jamaica that they’re here,” she continues. “There’s been a lot of history and heartbreak here and a lot of the people here aren’t going to eat today, they’re not in the best situation. But it’s important for them to be here to see the warm faces and the welcome. And I hope that the Duke and Duchess feel the love that the people have for them.”
Shanwayne Stephens, the pilot of the bobsleigh who is also a member of the Royal Air Force in the U.K., says the couple talked about the speed of the sleigh as it rockets down the course at around 100mph. “They said that it must be pretty scary. But it’s just one of those things.”
“You can see from the reception that they got that everyone wants to see them and get involved. I think they are doing an awesome job representing Her Majesty,” he adds.
Bobsleigher Rolando Reid said it was “awesome” to meet the couple. “They were trying to figure out how the bobsleigh worked. It’s not easy and it’s not really luxurious. They were pretty friendly and easy-going. Kate wanted to get stuck in. She said, ‘Get me in the back!’ “.
PEOPLE
The royal couple also met with Premier League football players Raheem Sterling and Leon Bailey as both were born in Jamaica.
Embed from Getty ImagesWilliam joined in for a game of football.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe couple also greeted the many people who had come out to the event.
Embed from Getty ImagesI’m not going to go too in depth about the protests in Jamaica regarding the visit/removing The Queen as Head of State of Jamaica. Personally, I think Jamaica should do what it wants – let the people and government decide their own future – and I also don’t think it’s anything personal against the Cambridges. There would be and have been these protests over any royal that visited. But here’s a bit about the issue from the People article linked above:
The royal couple’s visit comes amid controversy. As they touched down in Jamaica on Tuesday, a protest calling for slavery reparations from the British monarchy was taking place just miles away in the capital city of Kingston. Kate and William’s visit to Jamaica also comes amid reports that the Caribbean country is making moves to drop Queen Elizabeth as head of state.
Sources tell PEOPLE that William and Kate are aware of the situation and the protests. Any decision about becoming a republic is for the people and government of Jamaica, the sources point out. But William is expected to acknowledge the issue of slavery in his speech on Wednesday evening.
PEOPLE
We’ll see what William says about the slavery in Jamaica and whether he’ll really acknowledge it or if he’ll side step.
Embed from Getty ImagesWe’ll end for today with Kate’s final outfit. (I forgot how exhausting it is covering royal tours).
Embed from Getty ImagesSurprising myself, I actually like this. It doesn’t top the Roksanda, but with the print and the strips and the flap at the collar this would normally be a pass for me but I can’t help but enjoy this dress.
Kate wore a “Coral & Turquoise” Vintage 1950’s striped print dress (id credit to Heaven on Twitter). She wore her Maria Black Cha Cha earrings.
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