Mon. Dec 23rd, 2024
alert-–-more-royal-duties-for-charles-as-he-continues-cancer-treatment:-king-welcomes-high-commissioner-of-jamaica-to-buckingham-palace-–-while-country’s-pm-pushes-ahead-with-plans-to-make-it-a-republicAlert – More royal duties for Charles as he continues cancer treatment: King welcomes High Commissioner of Jamaica to Buckingham Palace – while country’s PM pushes ahead with plans to make it a republic

The King has held an audience with the High Commissioner of Jamaica as he continues cancer treatment. 

The 75-year-old met Alexander Williams, who was joined by his wife Carol Watson-Williams, at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

Charles is currently King of Jamaica, but the country’s prime minister Andrew Holness is pushing ahead with plans to make the realm a republic.

The Jamaican government announced in February that it had begun the first step in the legislative process of constitutional reform, with the preparation of the Constitution of Jamaica (Amendment of Section 61) Bill.

It said establishing Jamaica as a republic would be a priority over the coming year.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were criticised in January for posing for a picture with Mr Holness during a visit to Jamaica to attend the premiere of film Bob Marley: One Love. 

The King has held an audience with the High Commissioner of Jamaica as he continues cancer treatment. The 75-year-old met Alexander Williams, who was joined by his wife Carol Watson-Williams, at Buckingham Palace on Thursday

The King has held an audience with the High Commissioner of Jamaica as he continues cancer treatment. The 75-year-old met Alexander Williams, who was joined by his wife Carol Watson-Williams, at Buckingham Palace on Thursday

The King chats with Mr Williams and his wife at Buckingham Palace today

The King chats with Mr Williams and his wife at Buckingham Palace today

The Jamaican PM, 51, has been a long standing critic of his country’s relationship with the Commonwealth and the British monarchy.

READ MORE: The King zooms into royal duties: Charles holds video call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Buckingham Palace amid cancer treatment 

Mr Holness has also been vocal in his praise for the Prince and Princess of Wales William and Kate Middleton – but said they will never rule the nation.

The couple visited Jamaica in 2022 as part of celebrations to mark the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. 

William was both praised and criticised for speaking out against Britain’s historic role in the slave trade.

In an exchange that was caught on camera, Mr Holness told the royal couple that whilst Jamaicans were ‘very very happy’ to welcome them, ‘there are issues here which are as you would know unresolved.’

He added that his nation is ‘moving on’ and has ‘true ambitions’ to become an ‘independent, developed, prosperous country’.

His comments followed his statement that there was ‘no question’ his country would become a republic.

Mr Holness campaigned on the promise of making Jamaica a republic ahead of his 2016 PM win and 2020 re-election.

In the past, he has suggested African and Caribbean nations should unite to ‘demand reparations from colonial powers for the damage caused to our people’.

The King has postponed all public-facing engagements while he continues his treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, but he has been carrying out audiences and desk duties behind Palace walls.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were criticised in January for posing for a picture with Mr Holness during a visit to Jamaica to attend the premiere of film Bob Marley: One Love

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were criticised in January for posing for a picture with Mr Holness during a visit to Jamaica to attend the premiere of film Bob Marley: One Love 

Charles' meeting today comes after he held a video call with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau

Charles’ meeting today comes after he held a video call with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau 

High commissioners and ambassadors based in London have a customary audience with the monarch shortly after taking up their role.

Charles’ meeting today comes after he held a video call with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

The King earlier met with the Ambassador of Algeria, Nourredine Yazid, and Samba Mamadou, Ambassador of Mauritania.

The King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate earlier this year, which was unrelated.

He was treated in the same hospital as the Princess of Wales, who underwent abdominal surgery for an unknown condition in January.

The Army was forced into an apparent u-turn this week when they announced that the Princess of Wales was to return to her royal duties at a practice Trooping the Colour ceremony on June 8.

There were accusations officials ‘jumped the gun’ by announcing her attendance without consulting the Palace. 

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