The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, continued their official visit to the Caribbean and Atlantic on Monday with a tour of Belize to explore the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, where they will watch British forces training in the jungle.
It was at the Batsub base in Chiquibul where Prince William completed his military training two decades ago.
The couple will also visit Caracol this Monday, the best-known archaeological Maya area in Belize, and then visit Caana, the tallest statue in the country.
The couple will conclude their visit to Belize with a formal reception at the Cahal Pech Mayan camp, near the Guatemalan border.
The Dukes will leave Belize for Jamaica on Tuesday morning and then to the Bahamas as part of an official visit to the Caribbean and Atlantic to strengthen British ties with countries in the region.
Belize, Jamaica and Bahamas were once British colonies and Although they became independent decades ago, Isabel II continues to hold the position of head of state.
(Free press photo: AFP)
The visit of the Dukes to Belize It is the first for a member of the British royal family since 2012. when Prince Henry visited the country as part of a Silver Jubilee celebration for Elizabeth II.
at 96 years, The Queen has assigned a large part of royal duties, like these long-term trips to other members of the royal family.
The Agenda of the Dukes of Cambridge, however, it was changed on Sunday.
(Free press photo: AFP)
disputed terrain
The couple had planned to visit the Akte’iL Ha cocoa farm in Indian Creek, as it is a great example of sustainable agriculture.
However, local residents protested with banners against this visit, because the couple’s helicopter was allegedly given permission to land on a soccer field without notice.
The locals in turn They contest a piece of land against a group backed by the royal family.
(Free press photo: AFP)
With this in mind, Prince William and Catherine visited another point in the country “to show the entrepreneurial spirit of the Maya family in the cocoa industry”, This was reported by Kensington Palace.
Then the couple flew to Hopkins Village on the northeast coast of the Central American country. where the Garífuna festival is celebrated.
There the couple was received by the municipality of Garífuna who prepared typical local dishes like Hudut and Sahou, They were taught the art of making chocolate from cocoa beans and used to plant a tree.
(Free press photo: AFP)
Similar, the couple danced “Punta” with the residents of the community, as Prince Henry did on a previous visit.
Meanwhile, some residents were waiting for the dukes they left with a little deeper knowledge of the country, while others admitted they hadn’t paid much attention to the visit.
“We won’t see them so I don’t care aside from how your visit impacts traffic.” said Yamira Novelo, a Belize City resident.
(Photo: AFP)
(Photo: AFP)
(Free press photo: AFP)