The supposed snub by opposition MP Lisa Hanna came when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Kingston, amid protests over Britain’s history of colonialism and racism.
At the same time, Hanna acknowledged efforts to remove Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, move Jamaica to “true independence” and “develop systems & strategies where we become free from the monarchy.” Hanna also said she’s “a firm believer in reparations” and led a committee that “examined the economic cost of slavery to our country.”
As the queen’s representatives, William and Kate are in the midst of a week-long tour of the Caribbean, where the queen remains the remaining monarch and head of state in eight countries. Palace sourcesthat the Cambridges’ tour is part of a “charm offensive” to win over people in Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas.
A few days before the Cambridges’ arrival, a coalition of 100 politicians, business leaders, academics, and doctors also signed an open letter to the couple, urging them to apologize on behalf of the royal family for their role in the slave trade. A true test of William’s leadership and diplomatic skills is expected to come Wednesday evening, when he is expected to touch on the “atrocity” of slavery during a speech at a state dinner hosted by the Governor General of Jamaica, Patrick Allen, Harper’s Bazaar reported. The duke, however, isn’t likely to go as far as to give the apology so many Jamaicans want to hear.
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