William and Kate’s trip to the Caribbean is a royal disaster
William and Kate on one side, Jamaican youngsters on the other, and a foreboding steel fence in between. Consider this: your forefathers oppressed these people, placed them in cages, and ripped them of their dignity; is this how you wish to meet them?
I have no inhibitions in stating that the British are still trapped in the Victorian era. The recent three-nation tour of the Caribbean by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate, epitomised the colonial mindset. The arrogance and delusion of the royals were for everyone to see.
This tour was designed to restore Britain’s lost confidence and reinforce the country’s position in the Caribbean, but it turned out to be a royal disaster. Let’s begin with Belize: the couple danced with the locals and made chocolate. It was almost like a flashback to the 19th century, with noble British rulers visiting their subjects and exploring the mysteries of their colonies.
Now head to Jamaice. Prince William arrived in full military regalia, with extremely large caps, an uncomfortable salute, and a sword slung around his waist, none of which resembled modern-day Jamaica. It was an homage to their tragic past. Jamaica’s prime minister summed it up best when he said the country is very proud of what it has accomplished and that it is moving forward and that it intends to keep developing independently.
The royals were also welcomed (pun intended) with massive protests in Jamaica; they sought two things from Britain: an apology for their misdeeds and compensation for slavery. All Prince William could say on the international day of commemoration for the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade was that “I fully agree with my father, the Prince of Wales, who declared in Barbados last year that the horrific tragedy of slavery will forever stain our past.” “I want to express my profound sorrow that slavery was odious and should never have happened.”
Do you know what was lacking from all those words? Sorry! Prince William is sad that Jamaicans were enslaved, but is he sorry? That’s what the people wanted to hear, but the British monarchy isn’t ready for it.
One couldn’t help but wonder why Britain keeps committing public relations blunders. Perhaps it’s because the British people love it. Consider the headline of this Daily Mail piece.
Don’t be surprised. The internet is flooded with such articles.
To sum up, this obsession of the British people with the royals has to stop! At the same time, Britain must come forward, own up for the crimes of their forefathers, say sorry and let the colonies move on. After all, haven’t you opressed them enough in the past to make a mockery of their existence even today?
