The Cambridges plan to go on a Caribbean ‘charm offensive’ tour this spring

On January 21, Kensington Palace announced that Prince William will make an official trip to Dubai on February 10th. It sounds like William will go solo to Dubai and KP wanted people to know that his trip was happening “at the request of the British Foreign Office.” This will be William’s first official overseas trip in a while – clearly, the Keens went to Jordan last year (that’s where their Christmas card photo was taken), but it was just a vacation for them, not an official trip. They haven’t made an official overseas trip since – by my records – their trip to Ireland at the start of the pandemic, in March 2020. After this Dubai outing – which sounds more like a one or two-day drive-by at best – it looks like William and Kate will do a tour together in the Caribbean. A beach holiday on the taxpayers’ dime, dressed up to look like official work!!

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to launch a charm offensive in the Caribbean as part of a tour to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year. Belize, where the Queen is head of state and Prince William once trained with the Welsh Guards, is understood to be among the destinations on a trip that would have ‘a focus on ecological issues’.

Representatives for the Cambridges were spotted last week on the Central American nation’s paradise island of Ambergris Caye in what locals said was an ‘advance party’ preparing for a Royal tour in the spring. A source on the island said: ‘Their people were very secretive and kept saying this had to be kept very quiet, but on a small island like Ambergris Caye it’s impossible to keep anything quiet for very long. They were talking about a four-day visit to Belize in March as part of a longer trip to this part of the world. They said William and Kate might visit the Caye and also go to mainland Belize. It’s all anyone here is talking about. We are so excited.’

A visit from two of the most glamorous Royals would shore up crucial support for the Monarchy in the region. In November, Prince Charles visited Barbados for a ceremony to mark its historic decision to remove the Queen as head of state. Other Commonwealth countries in the region, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Dominica, already have their own heads of state. Last year, John Briceno, the Prime Minister of Belize, did not rule out his nation following suit, saying: ‘We need to find what fits Belize best.’

The last high-profile Royal visit to Belize was made by Prince Harry in 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. He attended a street party, sampled the local rum and opened a road renamed in his grandmother’s honour. A decade on, with Harry and Prince Andrew having stepped back from Royal responsibilities, there are far fewer members of the family able to carry out official duties on behalf of the 95-year-old Queen.

‘This leaves more work for the Cambridges, and Charles and Camilla,’ said a Palace insider. ‘You can’t underestimate the importance of a visit by Charles, because the heir to the throne will always outrank other senior Royals, but at the same time you can’t deny that the Cambridges have a certain stardust.’

A source in Belize said: ‘When Barbados declared independence there was a lot of talk in Belize about us going the same way. But we love the Queen. We have photographs of her in every government building and there is a great deal of affection for her as a person, even if some of the younger generation are leaning away from the Monarchy. William and Kate coming to visit us would be a huge triumph.’

[From The Daily Mail]

Reportedly, William and Kate might do a wider tour of Belize, St. Kitts, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and more. But I honestly can’t see them doing a multi-country tour like that unless it’s just a series of drive-by day trips, right? Especially if they bring the kids – that much travel would be tough with three kids, and it would be equally tough for Will and Kate to leave the kids with Carole for a month while they’re off touring. As for all the stuff about “glamorous royals” and how the people of Belize love the monarchy… lol. This whole story was written by Kensington Palace, including the quotes from “a source in Belize.” This is the way KP wanted to announce their forthcoming trip and create buzz. Kate the keen peacemaker, savior of the monarchy, The Wiglet Which Saved the Commonwealth and Her Husband Bill.

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