“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”. 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. 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 Duke of Cambridge’s statements have sparked controversy on social media, with some wondering if he withdrew his support for his father to become the next Commonwealth leader.
