Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, have arrived in Jamaica as part of a week-long Caribbean tour — but their visit has sparked protests calling for apologies and reparations over slavery and historical mistreatment.
After a short visit to Belize, the couple are scheduled to spend two days in Jamaica, where they’re expected to meet with government officials and tour Trench Town, the gritty birthplace of rocksteady and reggae where Bob Marley grew up, before continuing on to the Bahamas.
In a trip requested by Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke and Duchess's tour is aimed at strengthening relationships with Commonwealth countries as some of its members debate cutting ties with the British monarchy.
Campaigners against the monarchy held protests in Jamaica just hours before the royal couple arrived, days after dozens of prominent leaders on the island published a letter demanding that Britain pay reparations for slavery to its former colony.
Standard fanfare on arrival but protesters hit the streets
The Duke and Duchess stepped off the plane at Kingston's Norman Manley airport on Tuesday (local time) to Jamaica's military band.
They were received by Jamaican foreign affairs minister Kamina Johnson-Smith and Defence Force Chief Antonette Wemyss Gorman, before attending a meeting with Governor-General Patrick Allen, who represents the British crown in Jamaica.
Dozens of people gathered outside the British High Commission in Kingston before their arrival, singing traditional Rastafarian songs and holding banners with the phrase "seh yuh sorry" — a local patois phrase that urged Britain to apologise.
Economist and activist Dr Rosalea Hamilton helped organise the rally and said "historical wrongs" needed to be addressed.
"Part of the conversation is how we begin a new dispensation and (discussion) of actions for the new generation," she said.
Influential Jamaican public figures sign open letter calling for apology
The protests come after an open letter addressed to William and Kate was penned ahead of their visit calling for an apology for the "exploitation of the indigenous people of Jamaica, the transatlantic trafficking of Africans, the enslavement of Africans, indentureship and colonialisation" as well as the beginning of a "process of healing, forgiveness, reconciliation and compensation."
Organisers from Advocates Network Jamaica, a group that describes itself as an "unincorporated, non-partisan alliance of individuals and organisations", published the letter online and it has since been shared widely on social media.
The letter includes the signatures of dozens of high-profile Jamaicans, including doctors, scientists, priests and religious leaders, legal experts, musicians, artists, academics, teachers, diplomats and human rights advocates.
"You, who may one day lead the British Monarchy, are direct beneficiaries of the wealth accumulated by the Royal family over centuries, including that stemming from the trafficking and enslavement of Africans," the letter reads.
"If you choose to do so, we urge you to start with an apology and recognition of the need for atonement and reparations."
The group has outlined 60 reasons they believe the UK needs to apologise and "begin a process of reparatory justice" with the Jamaican people.
'People would react different' if Harry and Meghan toured
Jamaican attorney and advocate Bert Samuels told US publication Newsweek that the royal family's treatment of Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's wife, has not been forgotten in Jamaica.
Harry and Meghan made headlines around the world after a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, revealing allegations of racism including concerns from within the palace about "how dark" their firstborn son Archie's skin might be.
"The Jamaicans are very hurt by the treatment of an African American woman in that family," Mr Samuels told Newsweek.
"William needs to speak to that when he comes and as it were, he should come here with an apology, not only for slavery but for the treatment of a black woman who had to run out of the palace with her husband.
"That's a strong issue and that's a fresh wound."
Musician Beenie Man told Good Morning Britain ahead of the royals' arrival that Jamaicans would be more likely to welcome Prince Harry and Meghan to their homeland over William and Kate.
"If Harry was coming, people would react different," he told the program.
"People are going to meet Harry, but William… we don’t want to see that."
ABC/wires
