The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have held an official meeting with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who made clear his country's intention to break away from the British monarchy.
The royal couple were welcomed to Jamaica House in Kingston by Mr Holness and his wife Juliet, and introduced to cabinet members including Marlene Malahoo Forte, Minister for Legal Affairs, Robert Morgan, Minister without Portfolio, Floyd Green, Minister without Portfolio, Office of the Prime Minister and Audrey Sewell, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister.
After signing the visitors’ book in the lobby, William and Kate were taken inside for a private meeting with Mr Holness, who told the couple: “We are very very happy to have you and I hope you will have seen the warm welcome of the people.
“Jamaica is a very free and liberal country and the people are very expressive and I’m certain that you will have seen the spectrum of expression yesterday.
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“There are issues here which are, as you would know, unresolved, but your presence gives an opportunity for these issues to be placed in context, put front and centre and to be addressed as best we can.
“But Jamaica is, as you can see, a country that is very proud of its history, very proud of what we have achieved and we are moving on and we intend to attain, in short order, our developing goals and to fulfil our true ambitions… as an independent, developed, prosperous country.”
The Duke and Duchess were also presented with an official gift of Appleton Estate Ruby rum, created by the first female master blender in the world Dr Joy Spence - a blend of hand selected rums aged between 35 and 45 years.
Dr Spence, who presented it to them, told them to expect notes of orange, vanilla and hints of coffee.
And Mr Holness warned: “You have to be very careful with this rum.”
“Treat it carefully!” replied William.
“It’s very rare to get rums in that age range, normally we get 10 to 20, but when you get to 45, that’s very special,” said the prime minister.
Dr Spence agreed: “One of a kind, you will never see this again in the rum industry.”
“So this rum has a way of speaking on its own, if you drink it too fast or two much,” explained Mr Holness.
William replied: “Well, it will find a welcome home with us. It can speak to me all it wants, I will be very willing to listen!”
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At 49, Mr Holness is the country’s youngest leader to date and vowed to turn Jamaica from a constitutional monarchy into a Republic during his election campaign.
He also served as prime minister from October 2011 to January 2012, having succeeded Bruce Golding, but lost to Portia Simpson-Miller in an early election in December 2011.
He was elected to lead the country in 2016 and on taking office, said his government would introduce a bill to replace the Queen with “a non-executive president as head of state.”
In 2020, the Labour Party won a landslide in another general election, giving him another term as prime minister, but a timeline for a referendum, required by law to make the change, has not yet been given.
Amendments to the Constitution of Jamaica must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but certain sections, including any relating to the monarchy, can only be amended with a referendum.
As she chatted to Robert Morgan, Minister without Portolio, Kate said of their visit to Trenchtown on Tuesday: “I loved the drumming, I think it was just so brilliant. It really gets into your heart.”
Speaking afterwards, Marlene Malahoo Forte described the meeting as “Delightful.” She said: “I would say we are a hospitable people and Elizabeth is our head of state, and we will welcome her successor, her heirs as we should, notwithstanding any other issue that may be under discussion.
“They did say that they've been having a wonderful time and the absolutely love the culture. The Duchess indicated that she felt the beat of the drum in her heart. And that was very special for her.
“Every colonial nation has its time when it must reconsider its constitutional arrangements and Jamaica is at that place. I don't think any issue should have taken the royal highnesses by surprise. And I think they should be quite prepared to deal with issues and questions and understand that it is what it is, but they have been warmly welcomed to the Jamaican shore.
“From my exchanges with them, they indicated that it has been an absolutely lovely visit so far. They enjoyed the engagement with people. That is what they said to me.”
After the meeting with the Prime Minister, the royal couple visited the Shortwood Teacher College, where Kate hailed the work of teachers, who she said play a “crucial” role in shaping societies by nurturing the people children will become.
The Duchess praised its foresight in establishing an Early Childhood Education programme and its recognition that the early years were “fundamental” to a child’s journey through life.
She explained strategic investment and “a well trained professional workforce” were critical in helping to raise children today.
The Duchess also told the assembled students: “You, as teachers are at the front line of this work and play a crucial role in shaping our societies by positively impacting the futures of literally thousands of young people over the course of your careers.”
The couple signed a visitors book before walking to an infant school on site. Children waved England flags as they walked by and the Duchess paused to give high fives to some.
Inside a classroom, William met Natalia Young, who was celebrating her fourth birthday and wore a rosette and plastic crown.
The Duke asked how old she was, what kind of party she would have and how many candles.
Elsewhere, the Duchess asked a group their names and ages. She asked one girl: “Who did your hair today?”
She also asked them their favourite colours, telling the children hers was green “because it’s the colour of nature” and that William’s was blue, “like the sea and the rivers.”
The Duchess later described the children as being “so sweet.”
