Kate And William's Eyebrow-Raising Caribbean Tour Set The British Taxpayers Way Back
The Cambridges' recent royal Caribbean tour didn't go exactly as the couple expected.
As Harper's Bazaar reported at the time, ahead of landing in Belize, protests were mounted in direct opposition to their impending arrival. Prince William and Kate Middleton were also scheduled to visit the Bahamas and Jamaica over their eight-day trip but had to scramble to readjust their plans after locals made it clear they weren't welcome.
Notably, the Cambridges' very first appointment, at a rural cacao farm, was canceled outright following protests about the royal family's history of colonialism in the area. Signs were brandished by denizens of the indigenous Mayan village of Indian Creek, in the Toledo District, reading "Colonial legacy of theft continues with Prince," "Prince William, leave our land," and "Not your land, not your decision."
The couple seemed shocked by the response, but royal experts argued they should've known what they were getting themselves into. Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers contended that the world has changed irrevocably, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on Sky News Australia (via Express), Myers pointed out, "People are really questioning and institutions are questioning how they operate." At the same time, "It doesn't seem the royal family have done this." He questioned the many photo-ops the Cambridges were involved in, too. "How William and Kate didn't see those pitfalls and their team didn't see those pitfalls is simply extraordinary," he said.
As it turns out, their "disastrous" tour also cost British taxpayers a lot, too.
The Cambridges wracked up a massive bill abroad
Aside from the fact they weren't welcomed with open arms, Prince William and Kate Middleton's messy royal tour to the Caribbean also cost British taxpayers an eye-watering amount. People reports the total was a whopping $275,000, per a just-released palace report, making it the most expensive sojourn in the entire financial year.
Aside from questions about whether they should have visited in the first place, the trip led to increasingly loud calls for the queen to be removed as head of state and raised questions about Britain's dodgy history of colonialism in general.
The second most expensive trip was Prince Charles' visit to Barbados, which cost taxpayers $168,000. Funnily enough, he was present for the removal of Her Majesty as head of state and the official instatement of the region's very first president.
Elsewhere, the queen's jaunt on the Royal Train to Cornwall for the G7 summit in 2021 racked up a total bill of $38,400.
It's worth noting that only tours costing in excess of $18,100 were included in the report, so there are plenty more that Britons paid for without knowing. Naturally, following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the royal family ventured out more.
According to Bloomberg, the country is split on whether taxpayers should continue funding the monarchy's lavish lifestyle, per a recent Ipsos poll. However, the vast majority believes the queen should continue ruling for as long as possible, and they support Charles taking over once the time comes.
Kate and William learned a tough lesson from their trip
Royal experts lashed out at Kate Middleton and Prince William amid their royal tour, but the couple has reportedly been doing some soul-searching since returning to Britain. A source close to them told Us Weekly that the Cambridges "are overwhelmed with remorse" about what happened, especially since they were so excited to visit the Caribbean on an official basis.
"It was certainly more challenging than expected given the protests. They obviously know the history, but being there during the protests was a real eye-opener," the insider added.
In fact, William dealt with his family's "abhorrent" past while still in Jamaica, acknowledging that there was plenty of work to be done and cheering on the local people for breaking free of the Commonwealth.
The couple is now trying to figure out how best to move forward, with the source confirming, "They can't change what has happened in the past so are focusing on [the] future." In particular, they're planning to do more outreach work and being more hands-on in their approach — regardless of what the rest of the royals think.
During a subsequent speech at the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument in London, William once again reflected on the tour. "Our trip was an opportunity to reflect, and we learnt so much. Not just about the different issues that matter most to the people of the region, but also how the past weighs heavily on the present," the duke explained, per Us Weekly.