Photo: Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage
The Dutch royals are currently in the Caribbean on a two-week tour, a first for 19-year-old Catharina-Amalia, who is heir to the throne. Willem-Alexander, 55, Máxima, 51, and their eldest daughter arrived in Bonaire on Friday and were met with a demonstration while attending a lecture at the University of Aruba on Tuesday.
While sitting in on a discussion of Caribbean law, a woman stood up with her arm held high, and sang the gospel song “Oh, Freedom.” As seen in video footage that hitTwitter, her demonstration caught the attention of the three royals, who all turned to look. The woman continued to sing as she was escorted out of the building, and the lecture continued.
In December, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutteapologizedfor the Netherlands' history of slavery. Rutte said that the Dutch State “facilitated, stimulated, preserved and profited from slavery” for centuries, adding that “human beings were made into commodities, exploited and abused.”
Rutte previously said that thematter was too controversialfor King Willem-Alexander to address but said that the Dutch monarch will take part in a commemoration on July 1 marking the 150th anniversary of the complete abolition of slavery everywhere in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage
Willem-Alexander, Máxima and Catharina-Amalia aren’t the only European royals to meet resistance during a recent Caribbean tour. In March 2022,Prince WilliamandKate Middletonwere forced to cancel one of their first outings on their eight-day visit to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas after protests began before they arrived.
The local Q’eqehi Maya people have reportedly been in a dispute with the conservation charity Flora and Fauna International (FFI), of which William is a patron, and the local state over the rights to 12,000 acres of land.
Sebastian Shol, chairman of Indian Creek village, was quoted in theDaily Mailsaying the royals “could land anywhere but not on our land.”
A royal source confirmed that the visit had been canceled for “sensitive issues” involving the community in Indian Creek. Kensington Palace declined to comment.
Chris Jackson/Getty
The Government of Belize said in a statement, “Indian Creek was one of several sites being considered. Due to issues in the village, the Government of Belize activated its contingency planning and another venue has been selected to showcase Maya family entrepreneurship in the cacao industry.”
The dispute highlights the sensitivities that continue across the region stemming from the U.K.’s history of colonialism. The three countries that the couple visited all hadQueen Elizabeth(and nowKing Charles III) as head of state. In November 2021, fellow Caribbean countryBarbados dropped the Queenas head of state — and there arerumblings of republicanismin Jamaica as well.
AsPrince Williamand Kate’s tour of the Caribbean came to a close, William reflected on the future governance of the Caribbean nations in alandmark statement.
Indian Creek protest ahead of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s visit.7 News Belize/Youtube
“I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future. In Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon. But we have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with communities in all three countries, understanding more about the issues that matter most to them,” he continued.
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source: people.com
