Prince William and Kate emulate the Queen and Philip in Jamaica – 68 years on
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge poignantly echoed the Queen and Prince Philip as they attended their final engagement in Jamaica today.
The couple, who are on day six of their Caribbean tour, stepped aboard an open-top Land Rover just like Her Majesty did on her first trip to the island in 1953.
The newly-crowned monarch’s visit almost 69 years ago was part of the her first Commonwealth tour.
The vehicle William and Kate rode in tonight was also used by the Queen and Prince Philip during their visit in 1962.
Meanwhile, last night the pair recreated another moment from the 1953 royal tour as they arrived at the Governor General’s residence for a black tie dinner.
They descended the same staircase in King’s House, Kingston where the Queen, then 27, and the Duke of Edinburgh, then 32, were photographed together almost 70 years ago.
on the royals
For today’s visit, Kate dazzled in bridal white as she and dapper William dressed up for a military parade this afternoon.
The couple were pictured beaming at each other as they enjoyed the ceremony in Jamaica.
The prince wore his tropical dress of the Blues and Royals, with medals on show.
Meanwhile, Kate channelled Audrey Hepburn’s Eliza Doolittle in a custom lace Alexander McQueen dress and Philip Treacy hat.
Most read in The Sun
The duchess teamed her ensemble with a stunning pearl bracelet that belonged to Princess Diana. She also carried a £395 Anya Hindmarch satin clutch.
The Cambridges dressed to impress for the inaugural Jamaica Defence Force Commissioning Parade, which honours service personnel who have completed the Caribbean Military Academy’s officer training programme.
They were driven to the event in the same open-top Land Rover that carried the Queen and Prince Philip back in 1953.
And William quoted Bob Marley as he addressed the new graduates, telling his audience: “You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.”
IN THE QUEEN’S FOOTSTEPS
Following the engagement, the couple will travel to the Bahamas for the next stop on their tour.
Today’s event comes hours after William made a landmark speech on the horrors of slavery.
The duke, 39, addressed politicians amid the continuing unrest across the nation and demands for the Royal Family to apologise and pay billions of pounds in reparations.
He told guests at a formal banquet last night that “it should never have happened”.
He then echoed the words of his father, who branded the slave trade a “stain on our history” four months ago when Caribbean neighbours Barbados declared itself a republic.
OUR FAIR LADY
Anniversaries are also a moment for reflection, particularly this week with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
“I strongly agree with my father, The Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history,” he said.
“I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened.
“While the pain runs deep, Jamaica continues to forge its future with determination, courage and fortitude.”
Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness appeared to suggest his country may be the next to break away from the monarchy, telling the Cambridges there are plans to “move on”.
Read More on The Sun
The country’s government has already begun the process to transition to a republic, with an official appointed to oversee the work.
He and Kate have been visiting the Caribbean to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.