The 39-year-old Duke of Cambridge has also hinted that a British king may in the future no longer head the club of the 54 Commonwealth countries as the political union of the former colonies evolves. The unusually candid comments, which erupted in front of several British newspapers on Sunday, followed a difficult tour of the Caribbean in three countries last week, sparking protests and criticism. William and his wife Kathryn, 40, received calls to apologize for the slave trade that helped destroy the property of the British kings, as well as accusations that they appeared “deaf” for details of the visit. They were also forced to address the issue of the former colonies, considering whether they would follow the example of the Barbados and lose the queen as head of state. The Barbados officially declared themselves a democracy in November. Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas – all stops on the royal tour – are said to be considering such a move. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holns told William loudly in front of television cameras that the nation was “moving forward” as an independent country. “I know this tour has brought even more intense questions about the past and the future,” the Duke of Cambridge said in a statement at the end of the tour on Saturday. “In Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, this future belongs to the people.” William added that he and his wife were “committed to the ministry” and that this meant “not telling people what to do” but “serving and supporting them”. – ‘In my mind’ – The Commonwealth, a group of 54 mostly former British colonies, is led by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2018, its leaders officially announced that her son and successor Prince Charles would inherit the role when he becomes king. But William, second in line to the throne, said that “the one the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in the future is not what I have in mind.” “What matters to us is the potential of the Commonwealth family to create a better future for the people who shape it and our commitment to serve and support as best we can,” he added. The couple’s trip to the Caribbean was intended to help Commonwealth countries where his 95-year-old grandmother is also head of state celebrate 70 years on the record-breaking throne. But what was designed to be carefully choreographed photo calls and public appearances for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee did not quite go according to plan. In Belize, some locals were outraged after failing to consult parts of their route, and then provoked placards in Jamaica. The protesters demanded that the monarchy pay compensation and apologize for its role in the slave trade that brought hundreds of thousands of Africans to the island to toil under inhumane conditions. Meanwhile, some of the tour’s visuals have been criticized for provoking colonialism, including the couple greeting children through metal chain fences and William parading in an open-head jeep in military uniform … AFP
