Prince William and The Duchess of Cambridge closed out their 8-day tour of the Caribbean yesterday, March 26, with a final day in The Bahamas. The couple visited Abeco where they visited a church to see the damage done by Hurricane Dorian before attending a wreath laying ceremony. Afterward they attended a Fish Fry before traveling to Grand Bahamas island to visit a children’s home and an Earthshot Prize winner.
Embed from Getty ImagesLet’s begin, though, with a statement William released after the day’s events reflecting on this tour and the issues raised.
Foreign tours are an opportunity to reflect. You learn so much. What is on the minds of Prime Ministers. The hopes and ambitions of school children. The day-to-day challenges faced by families and communities.
I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future. In Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon. But we have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with communities in all three countries, understanding more about the issues that matter most to them.
Catherine and I are committed to service. 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. Who the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in the future isn’t what is on my mind. What matters to us is the potential the Commonwealth family has to create a better future for the people who form it, and our commitment to serve and support as best we can.
Source
William and Kate and their PR team have clearly been listening to the media and social media controversies as well as the views of the people they have met over the last 8 days. They never would have released this statement had things played out differently.
Is this too little, too late? Is this a bandaid on a festering wound? Personally, I don’t think this statement was very well written; it was clearly thrown together in haste.
I have way more thoughts on the all the controversies but I’ll save that for another post. For now, let’s just finish out this tour. I had forgotten how exhausting it is covering a royal tour.
Embed from Getty ImagesWilliam and Kate began their day at Daystar Evangelical Church to visit and speak with people who had been affected by Hurricane Dorian in 2019 – which damaged 75% of homes across The Bahamas islands – and discuss rebuilding efforts which are still ongoing.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe couple then attended a small remembrance service where they laid a wreath at Abaco’s Memorial Wall, which was built to remember the many victims of the hurricane.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe next stop was at a Fish Fry event in Dundas Town where the Cambridges sampled local cuisine from various vendors. One of the dishes was Conch Salad, which Kate sampled before going behind the counter and cutting some up herself.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesDuring the outing, William and Kate met vendors who prepared a taste of Bahamian cuisine, including the local favorite — conch salad.
“I’m a little bit more adventurous than William is!” Kate said as she stepped up to sample a piece of conch. The royal had one reaction to the taste after she expertly took a bite. “That was lovely,” Kate said.
The Duchess of Cambridge even stepped behind the counter to make conch salad herself as Jade Adderley, a vendor at the Fish Fry in Dundas Town, Abaco, looked on. “I’m not as fast as you!” Kate told him.
People
One vendor they met was Tipsea Canvas who created a travel kit for the couple. These bags are so cute but I can’t find a website to purchase them online anywhere.
William and Kate did a walkabout at the Fish Fry, meeting a bunch of people who had come out. William brought out this little girl from the crowd to come meet Kate because the girl is a photographer.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe royal couple then traveled to Grand Bahamas island where they visited Grand Bahama Children’s Home. The GBCH was founded in 1977 as a safe haven for children who were abandoned, abused, or neglected. They now serve children between the ages of 6 weeks and 12 years old; and since its inception, they’ve protected thousands of children for varying lengths of time.
Embed from Getty ImagesUpon their arrival, William and Kate met with staff before being given a tour of the facilities. They then met with the children, and William played football and helped them on the swings.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe final engagement of the day was a visit to 2021 Earthshot Prize Winner, Coral Vita. Coral Vita “protects threatened ecosystems by growing diverse and resilient corals and outplanting them into degraded reefs”.
Embed from Getty ImagesCoral Vita creates high-tech coral farms that incorporate breakthrough methods to restore reefs in the most effective way possible. Our scientific team has partnered with leading marine institutes, utilizing techniques to grow coral up to 50x faster while boosting their resiliency against the warming and acidifying oceans that threaten their survival. We then outplant these corals back into degraded reefs, bringing them back to life.
Coral Vita
Moving into fashion, Kate wore pink for her final day of engagements.
Embed from Getty ImagesHer dress is by RIXO, the Izzy in pink marble zebra. It’s described as “the effortless prep of a Hepburn-esque shirtdress, made unique by this hand-painted zebra print in bubble-gum pink”. It’s okay. It’s not my favorite look of the tour but Kate does look good in pink.
Kate accessorized with her Nadia Irena earrings debuted the other day, and a new Emmy London Natasha clutch in pink.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe final, final engagement of the 8-day long tour was a departure at the Lynden Pindling International Airport. Kate changed into a new dress for this farewell and….
WHAT IN THE 1980S IS THIS MADNESS???
This dress is by Alessandra Rich – a Silk jacquard rose print dress with peplum and crystal buckle belt. Complete with a terrible pattern, a bow at the bust, puffy sleeves, a peplum, and a belt with a crystal belt buckle, all in an ugly yellow color. Oh, and buttons!
Kate’s looks this tour have been fantastic and then she completely blows it on the last leg with this monstrosity!
Her earrings are by Patrick Mavros.
Embed from Getty ImagesMore photos from the day:
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