(TELEGRAPH.CO.UK) – The Prince of Wales on Sunday landed in the Caribbean for his first trip to some of the island nations for 45 years, as he cements his role as the next head of Commonwealth with a tour to charm wavering members.
The Prince and Duchess of Cornwall, who will next week become the first members of the Royal Family to officially set foot in Cuba, is to visit five Commonwealth countries during the 11-day tour, spending a day in each to meet local politicians, see the culture and undertake events about the environment.
It will be the first time the Prince has been to St Vincent and the Grenadines since 1973, and follows the 2018 confirmation that he will follow the Queen as the next head of Commonwealth.
The trip will see the Prince visit several countries where the issue of republicanism has created “sound and fury”, with the then-prime minister of Barbados insisting in 2015 it would end its allegiance with the monarchy “in the very near future” with no results.
In 2009, St Vincent and the Grenadines held a referendum for people to decide whether to keep the Queen and her successors as head of state, with the republican side losing with 43.13 per cent of the vote.
While affection for the Queen remains high throughout the Commonwealth, the Prince will now embark on his own mission to personally charm members and demonstrate the continuing relevance of the monarchy.
The trip will see the Prince and Duchess of Cornwall spend a day in St Lucia, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada, where they will focus on critical local environmental issues and hurricane preparedness.
Prince Charles will be in SVG on the 20th March 2019.
