As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travel on their first royal tour of the Caribbean, their itinerary has taken them to Trench Town, Kingston – the birthplace of reggae music.
The Duke and Duchess headed to the Trench Town Culture Yard Museum, the former home of reggae legend Bob Marley. There, they joined in on some live music and even took their own try at playing the drums. As they toured the museum, they learned about the impact reggae music has made across the globe.
While touring the museum, the Duke said: “So much musical history was made here.”
Trench Town is referenced in Marley’s hit, “No Woman No Cry.” He also named a song after the area.
It would be the first of several references that William made to the superstar musician during his time in Jamaica. Speaking at a gala dinner hosted by the Governor General of Jamaica, the Duke told fellow guests ”Already in our short time here, Catherine and I are delighted to have felt what Bob Marley described so many years ago –the spirit of ‘One love’ that Jamaica has given to the world and which makes this country so special.”
And speaking to a military parade as the trip came to an end, William once more references Bob Marley, quoting one of his most famous lines as he said ”Being asked to lead men and women through uncertainty and danger is daunting. ‘You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.”
Bob Marley was also known for his passion for football and during the first major engagement of the Jamaica visit, William took to the field at Trench Town. The royal couple met with young football players, including the winners of Jamaica’s famous Manning Cup. Football stars Raheem Sterling and Leon Bailey were also at the events.It wasn’t just the game of football getting attention,
Their Royal Highnesses met with some well-known Jamaican sports stars including the Olympics bobsleigh team who just competed in the Beijing Winter Games in February.
The Duke and Duchess spent three days in Jamaica where they were greeted by cheering crowds as well as protesters. The Prime Minister of Jamaica also spoke openly to them of the country’s future against a backdrop of ongoing debate about the country ditching the Crown and becoming a republic. During their stay, the Duke of Cambridge also described slavery as abhorrent and said it should never have happened.
The couple are ending their royal tour with a visit to The Bahamas.
