The widow of reggae legend Bob Marley praised Prince Harry’s rebellious spirit and described him as ‘fearless’ after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex waded into a political firestorm by cosying up to Jamaica’s anti-royalist prime minister at the premiere of a new biopic about her husband.
can reveal the Duke made a beeline for Rita Marley, 77, who is in poor health and in a wheelchair, and gallantly kissed her hand shortly before the ‘One Love’ film began.
Her daughter Stephanie, 49, said: ‘She (my mother) is fond of Harry and loves his spirit as well as his rebellion against the status quo.
‘She likes that he seems fearless and stands up for what he believes is right.’
The Sussexes were criticized for posing on the red carpet alongside PM Andrew Holness who was accused of ‘ambushing’ Prince William and wife Kate during a state visit in 2022 when he told them his country would be ‘moving on’ from the British monarchy.
Prince Harry meeting Rita Marley at the premiere of Bob Marley: One Lov at the Carib 5 Theatre on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica. The Duke made a beeline for Mrs. Marley, 77, who is in poor health and in a wheelchair, and gallantly kissed her hand shortly before the film began
Harry and Meghan at One Love premiere in Kingston, Jamaica with Marlene Malahoo Forte, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs of Jamaica
Bob Marley and wife Rita Marley, July 26, 1978 at The Daisy In Beverly Hills, California
The former British colony gained independence in 1962 but retained the King as head of state, something Mr Holness has vowed to end by 2025.
Mrs. Marley first met Harry during his visit to Jamaica for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and the pair have stayed in regular touch with the duke sending her ‘personal gifts’.
It’s understood only a handful of high-ranking Jamaican officials were aware of the trip which was paid for by film studio Paramount Pictures.
The night before last Tuesday’s premiere, sources on the island said the Sussexes spent the night at the five-star Half Moon resort in Montego Bay, where four-bedroom villas are $4,300-a-night.
The Mail has been told Harry and Meghan stayed in the upscale ‘Eclipse’ section of the property which has its own private beach, swimming cove and security, making it exclusive even within the opulent resort.
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the world premiere of Bob Marley: One Love on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the world premiere of Bob Marley: One Love on Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attends the Premiere of Bob Marley: One Love at the Carib 5 Theatre in Kingston, Jamaica
Previous guests have included the Kennedy family and royals including King Charles and the late Queen.
From there the group moved to Kingston where, on Tuesday daytime, they enjoyed a private tour of the Bob Marley museum.
Bob Marley Group lawyer Lecia-Gaye Taylor said the group spent an hour inside the exhibition.
‘It was not Harry’s first time here and they definitely enjoyed it,’ she said.
The tour was conducted by one of the longest-serving guides at the museum, Ricky Chaplin, who has a role in the movie playing Marley’s spiritual guide, Mortimer Planno.
After Tuesday’s premiere, Harry and Meghan joined 60 revellers at an ‘after party’ at the five-star Terra Nova hotel in Kingston.
Sources say the Sussexes were in ‘high spirits’ and appeared relaxed as they enjoyed cocktails at the bar which was closed to other guests.
The Sussexes had flown nearly 2,500 miles from their home in Montecito to Montego Bay last Sunday aboard a private Gulfstream IV jet chartered by the film company last weekend.
Paramount CEO Brian Robbins and his fashion designer wife Tracy are friends of the couple and own a $17 million weekend home in Montecito a stone’s throw from the Sussexes’ 16-bathroom mansion.
Mr Robbins, a former child star, also owns a $25 million home in Beverly Hills and is considered one of Hollywood’s most powerful men.
A source said: ‘Brian bought his first house in Montecito from Ellen DeGeneres who is close to Harry and Meghan. Montecito is a small town and everyone knows each other. Tracy is a doll, a wonderful woman who is down-to-earth despite having so much wealth and privilege. She’s incredibly discreet.’
Ironically, Paramount owns the Comedy Central channel which aired the brutal South Park episode which mocked Harry and Meghan for their ‘worldwide privacy tour.’
A clip showing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex taking their seats at the premiere of the Bob Marley: One Love biopic surfaced. The clip appears to show Harry, 39, looking slightly downcast as he makes his way to his seat, following his wife
On Wednesday they flew home to California aboard a Bombardier BD-700 private jet belonging to Paramount.
The couple’s ‘closeness’ to Paramount head Mr Robbins coupled with Harry’s appearance at last week’s ‘Living Legends of Aviation’ awards alongside Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has prompted speculation they may be seeking other outlets for when their $100 deal with Netflix runs out next year.
A source said: ‘It’s no coincidence that Prince Harry has been with two of Hollywood’s major power brokers within the past two weeks.
‘Everyone knows the Netflix deal is coming to an end and Harry and Meghan have big bills to pay.
‘They knew this trip to Jamaica would play well with the audience they are trying to appeal to which is young and diverse.
‘I don’t think they give a damn what the Brits think.
‘This is all about building their brand.’
A high-ranking Democratic Party source in the US said the optics of this week’s visit would be good for Meghan who is known to have political ambitions.
‘It’s election year and Meghan will be actively involved in the anti-Trump campaign.
‘This week made her look cool and relevant.’
The Sussexes have warm ties to Jamaica in stark contrast to the Prince and Princess of Wales who were accused of looking ‘colonial’ during their state visit in 2022 when they drove past locals in an open-topped Land Rover and shook hands with well-wishers through a metal fence.
When asked why he chose to attend Tuesday’s premiere, Harry replied: ‘I had to be here.’
Ex-Suits actress Meghan enjoyed childhood holidays in Jamaica and wed first husband Trevor Engelson on the island in 2011.
Prince Harry and Bob Marley’s son Ziggy Marley at the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love
Her estranged father Thomas told the MoS how he proudly walked her down the aisle at the beach wedding but was later shocked when guests were given burlap bags filled with marijuana as party favours.
While this week’s visit caused consternation in the UK – renewing calls for the Sussexes to be stripped of their royal titles – in Jamaica it served to focus attention on next year’s referendum which will include a vote on a demand for reparations for Britain’s involvement in the slave trade.
A spokeswoman for PM Mr. Holness said: ‘Jamaica is in the midst of a constitutional reform process. We will allow that to take its course’.
Dr. Rosalea Hamilton, an activist who organised protests during William and Kate’s 2022 visit, said Harry and Meghan were a sideshow from the deeper issues.
She said: ‘For me their presence and being part of this conversation is a distraction to the core issues we’re confronting such as what exactly will these reforms look like. That’s the focus’.
Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Culture Minister, said it ‘spoke volumes’ about Harry and Meghan’s love for the country that they came such a long way to attend the ‘One Love’ premiere.
Asked why they got a warmer reception than William and Kate, Ms Grange said that the answer was simple: ‘Jamaicans love them’.