The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were today branded “insensitive” after posing with Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who has previously said he intends to abandon the monarchy and warned Prince William and Kate that they will never leave the island would govern.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were pictured with the politician on the red carpet after flying from California to Kingston for the premiere of the new Bob Marley film One Love last night.
The cozy get-together comes as Harry's sister-in-law Kate Middleton recovers in hospital after abdominal surgery in London, nearly 5,000 miles away, while his father, the royal, prepared for prostate surgery.
Mr Holness, 51, has long been a critic of Jamaica's relations with the Commonwealth and the British monarchy and formally announced plans to make the country an independent republic in 2022.
Mr. Holness's big vision is to adopt a new constitution for Jamaica that would make the country a republic without a monarchy.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were branded “insensitive” today after posing with Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness
Mr. Holness has previously stated that he intends to abandon the monarchy
He also warned Prince William and Kate Middleton that they would never rule the island
Last year the country admitted it wanted to abandon the monarchy after the queen's death in 2022.
Mr Holness said he believed there had always been a “strong love and respect” for the late queen and that the time was “right for it”. [separate] would have been in a transition phase.
“The truth is that recent polls have shown that there is a tendency to make Jamaica a republic.” “So over time the position has evolved,” he told the Express.
It was hoped that the amendment to the country's constitution would be completed by June this year, but the government faced delays due to discussions about what position the new head of state would take.
“We would have liked to have done this within a year, but the process is not linear. “So we are on the path to public education.”
He explained that a law would then have to be passed in Parliament before a referendum was held.
It is not yet confirmed when Jamaica will become a republic.
2022 vs. 2024: Prince William and Kate held tense talks with Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness during a visit to Kingston in March 2022 (left), while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle smiled on the red carpet at the same city's film premiere last night (right)
Mr Holness praised Prince William and Princess Kate, who he said were “always welcome” to visit the Caribbean island. Pictured during a visit to the Trench Town Culture Yard Museum, where Bob Marley once lived
Mr Holness said he believed there had always been a “strong love and respect” for the late queen and that the time was “right for it”. [separate] would have been in a period of transition' (pictured with King Charles in 2022)
Mr Holness was also vocal in his praise of the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate Middleton – but said they would never rule the nation.
The couple visited Jamaica and William was both praised and criticized for speaking out against Britain's historic role in the slave trade.
But despite his condemnation of the “vile” human trafficking, which was abolished by Britain in 1807 after 200 years, some Jamaicans believe he did not go far enough.
The heir to the throne said at a dinner in Kingston: “I completely agree with my father, the Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history. “I want mine deeply express sadness. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened. '
In a conversation caught on camera, Mr. Holness told the royal couple that while Jamaicans were “very, very happy” to welcome them, there are “issues here that, as you know, are unresolved.” “.
He added that his country is “moving on” and has “real ambitions” to become an “independent, developed, prosperous country.”
His comments followed his statement that there was “no question” that his country would become a republic.
The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
The couple has two sons in their marriage, Adam and Matthew
Mr. Holness campaigned on a promise to make Jamaica a republic before his 2016 premiership victory and re-election in 2020.
In the past, he has suggested that African and Caribbean nations should join together to “demand reparations from colonial powers for the harm done to our people.”
He became the country's youngest head of state to date and promised in the 2020 election campaign to transform Jamaica from a constitutional monarchy into a republic.
He said his government would introduce a bill to replace the queen with “a non-executive president as head of state.”
A minister close to him indicated at the time that a vote would be held that would allow secession from the British throne to be completed by the end of 2024.
When he's not calling the Jamaican Republic, Mr. Holness is a happily married man whose wife, Juliet Holness, works as an accountant.
The couple have been married for over 20 years and have two sons, Adam and Matthew.
The Prime Minister claims he “enjoys a game of chess, jogging, cycling and a game of table tennis”.