Prince William Praised For Response To Calls For Caribbean Countries To Cut Ties With Monarchy

Prince William has said he supports and respects any decision Caribbean nations make about their future, as Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica consider cutting their ties with the British monarchy.

The Duke of Cambridge and his wife Kate Middleton, who are currently in the Bahamas for the final day of their eight-day tour of the Caribbean, have faced backlash in the Caribbean nations where Prince William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, remains head of state since the tour began.

On Friday, Prince William made his views clear about issues such as slavery, reparations and the prospect of more countries becoming republics while delivering a speech at a dinner hosted by the governor-general of the Bahamas.

"Next year, I know you are all looking forward to celebrating 50 years of independence — your Golden Anniversary," Prince William said in his speech, as quoted by royal correspondent Richard Palmer.

"With Jamaica celebrating 60 years of independence this year, and Belize celebrating 40 years of independence last year, I want to say this: We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future," the Duke of Cambridge continued. "Relationships evolve. Friendship endures."

Prince William's speech was met with positive reactions on social media.

"His speech was brilliant! No blowing his and his family's own horn, only lifting them up, thanking them and fully supporting them as they always have done… ALWAYS," one person commented on Twitter.

"It was perfect. Spot on. Prince William has done a fantastic job!" another wrote.

"Well done, Prince William. No one was stopping countries from changing HoS, but if they needed to hear it, now they have. Strong move and great speech," a third supporter wrote.

While in Jamaica, the second stop of his and Middleton's royal tour, Prince William expressed his deep "sorrow" for the horrors of the slave trade in a landmark speech that acknowledged his country's role in the trafficking of people to the Caribbean and the U.S.

"Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened," the duke said Wednesday at a dinner at King's House, the residence of the governor-general of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen. "While the pain runs deep, Jamaica continues to forge its future with determination, courage and fortitude. The strength and shared sense of purpose of the Jamaican people, represented in your flag and motto, celebrate an invincible spirit."

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told the royal couple Tuesday that his country wants to be independent of the monarchy. This comes months after Barbados became a republic in November 2021.

"There are issues here, which as you know, are unresolved, but your presence gives us an opportunity for those issues to be placed in context, to be out front and center and to be addressed as best we can," the prime minister told Prince William and Middleton, according to People.

He continued, "But Jamaica is, as you would see, is a country that is proud of its history and very proud of what we have achieved. And we're moving on and we intend to… fulfill our true ambitions and destiny to become an independent, developed and prosperous country."