Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Kate Middleton and Prince William in Belize
Kate Middleton and Prince William kicked off the first full day of their Caribbean tour on Sunday with a visit to a cocoa farm in Belize.
The visit replaced another planned outing that was canceled on Friday after protests broke out ahead of the couple's arrival. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had planned to visit a different cocoa farm in the foothills of the Maya Mountains on Sunday, but that was canceled after villagers staged a protest about colonialism and the use of a football field by the royals for landing their helicopter.
Villagers in Indian Creek were photographed on Friday with signs saying, "Prince William leave our land."
PEOPLE understands that William, Kate and their staff were happy to continue with their planned visit to the sustainable farm in the foothills of the Maya Mountains and talk to the indigenous people at the heart of the dispute, but the local Belizian authorities advised against it.
RELATED: Kate Middleton and Prince William Share a Fun Tradition with Their Kids Before They Travel
Instead, the couple visited the family-run Che'il Mayan Cacao Farm and Chocolate Factory in Maya Center Village, where they toured the farm and learned about the chocolate-making process.
Paul Edwards/Pool/Getty Kate Middleton and Prince William
Kate, who wore a blue smocked Tory Burch midi dress and carried a straw clutch, and William saw first-hand how raw cacao is transformed into world-renowned Mayan chocolate.
"You make it look so easy!" Kate told the guide as he expertly extracted cacao beans from the pod.
Kate also tried her hand at grinding some cacao nibs during a demonstration. As they sampled some chocolate, Kate said, "I think our children will be very jealous."
Paul Edwards/Pool/Getty Kate Middleton and Prince William
Of their canceled visit to the Maya Mountains, a royal source confirmed that the visit had been canceled for "sensitive issues" involving the community in Indian Creek.
The local Q'eqehi Maya people have reportedly been in a dispute with the conservation charity Flora and Fauna International, of which William is patron, and the local state over the rights to 12,000 acres of land. The land is adjacent to the cocoa farm that the couple were set to tour. Sebastian Shol, chairman of Indian Creek village, was quoted in the Daily Mail saying the royals "could land anywhere but not on our land."
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Kate Middleton
Village youth leader Dionisio Shol added, "For us, it really hits home because of the treatment. The organizer said we had to let them use the football field and that people were coming to our village and it had to look good. Giving community leaders commands did not sit well with the community."
William and Kate followed their rearranged farm visit on Sunday with a trip to the beach-front village of Hopkins, the cultural center of the Garifuna community in Belize. The area is known for its welcoming nature and the Duke and Duchess were greeted with a demonstration of Garifuna culture.
JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP via Getty Kate Middleton and Prince William
With the marine environment being central to the lives of people in the area, the couple will also meet conservation specialists to hear about marine protection and the incredible restoration efforts being taken to preserve the area's precious barrier reef.
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
After stepping off their plane on Saturday, the couple was welcomed with a 21-gun salute shot from three small cannons. William then conducted an inspection of the guard of honor from the Belize Defense Force.
Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
The couple was then whisked off to their first official meeting with Prime Minister Johnny Briceno and his wife Rossana Briceno.
"It's lovely to be here," William told his hosts.
The couple will travel to Jamaica and the Bahamas later in the week as they continue their visit to the Caribbean on behalf of Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee.
Kate Middleton and Prince William Step Out on First Full Day of Caribbean Tour After a Rocky Start - Yahoo Canada
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment