Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Slammed For Posing With Anti-Monarchy Jamaican PM: 'Insensitive'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing criticism from a royal pundit for posing for photos with Jamaica's prime minister amid King Charles III's health issues.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen with Andrew Holness, who has called for his country to break ties with the British monarchy and become a republic, on the red carpet at the premiere of "Bob Marley: One Love" in Jamaica Tuesday.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal commentator Phil Dampier condemned the couple's move, labeling it as "insensitive."
Dampier noted that Jamaica is likely to hold a referendum later this year to decide on removing Prince Harry's father King Charles as its head of state, making the photo op questionable.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pose with Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness at the premiere of 'Bob Marley: One Love.' pic.twitter.com/3TruucugsR
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"It's almost certain they will go their own way eventually," Dampier said of Jamaica.
"Under normal circumstances, there would be nothing wrong with them going to a film premiere. But at a time when ... Jamaica is making noises about ditching the monarchy, this is rather insensitive," the royal pundit added.
Dampier said that while the Sussexes might have "happy memories" of Jamaica, they appeared to send a message that they support the country while staying silent on King Charles and Kate Middleton's health issues.
Princess Kate remains in the hospital after undergoing a planned abdominal surgery, while the King is scheduled for a "corrective procedure" to treat an enlarged prostate.
Prince Harry and Markle have not released statements on the news, but an unnamed insider recently told The Mirror that the couple privately reached out to both royals to offer their support.
The Jamaican prime minister had previously expressed the country's intention to become an independent republic when Prince William and Kate Middleton visited the nation in March 2022 as part of an eight-day tour of the Caribbean.
At the time, the Prince and Princess of Wales' visit was met with protests calling for the U.K. to pay reparations for slavery and demands for Jamaica to transition into a republic.
Holness told Prince William and Middleton that the Jamaican people had a right to be "expressive" and that the royal couple's visit gave them an opportunity for "unresolved" issues to be "placed in context, to be out front and center and to be addressed as best we can," People reported.
"Jamaica is, as you would see, a country that is proud of its history and very proud of what we have achieved," the prime minister said at the time. "And we're moving on and we intend to... fulfill our true ambitions and destiny to become an independent, developed and prosperous country."
Prince William later said in a speech in the Bahamas that the monarchy supports Caribbean nations removing the British sovereign as their head of state.
"With Jamaica celebrating 60 years of independence this year, and Belize celebrating 40 years of independence last year, I want to say this: We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future," the future king said, as seen in a video obtained by The Guardian. "Relationships evolve. Friendship endures."
