Last month, Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge embarked on a royal tour in the Caribbean. The couple undertook a tour of three Commonwealth realms – Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas but their 8-day trip was met with protests, demanding an apology and reparations for Britain’s slaving past. One particular moment that caused controversy was the decision that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would ride during a commissioning parade in the same Land Rover used by the Queen and Prince Philip during their 1953 trip to Jamaica. The decision has been strongly been criticised.
Speaking on their weekly podcast, Royally Obsessed, hosts Rachel Bowie and Roberta Fiorito discussed the Land Rover photographs.
Ms Fiorito pointed out “in their defence” that Prince William pointed out that the Land Rover may be a “red flag”.
She added: “He told his PR team. They said the Ministry of Defence in Jamaica really wants this.
“They have so much pride about this vehicle and that they still have it and this moment.
She continued: “They [William and Kate] are aware of the controversy and that royal tours can’t be the same”
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The pair then quoted a listener opinion on the Land Rover “red flag”.
They said, quoting the listener: “At this point, they better be setting up crisis meetings and strategy sessions as soon as William and Kate get back to London.
“The whole royal tour tradition has to be revisited, the game plan will have to change, if what’s happened this week doesn’t result in a complete systems overhaul then the whole monarchy cannot survive.”
The podcast hosts also cited the assessment of royal correspondent Rebecca English, who said: “I have no doubt that the whole ethos of royal tour will change from now on.
“More celebratory, less cerebral”.
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The Queen is at risk of losing her position as head of state in Jamaica due to plans for the country to turn into a republic.
Although there is no confirmation, the removal could be a “swift process” and could happen as early as August.
August is also the month that Jamaica will celebrate its 60th Independence anniversary.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness spoke in December and said that there was “no question that Jamaica has to become a republic”.
