Clarence House has confirmed that the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will become the first members of the British Royal Family to visit Cuba. The details came as more information on their forthcoming visit to the Caribbean was released. Five Commonwealth nations and a British Overseas Territory are also on the agenda for Charles and Camilla during their tour.
The royal couple will spend almost two weeks away, starting in St. Lucia on March 17th and finishing in the Cayman Islands on March 29th 2019. Their itinerary also includes stops in Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Granada as well as the trip to Cuba. News that Charles and Camilla were set to visit the Communist country came last week as they helped mark the tenth anniversary of the UK Supreme Court. Then, the court’s President, Baroness Hale, said that the Duchess of Cornwall had talked about Cuba being part of the tour, adding that Camilla was ”very much looking forward” to it.
The couple will spend four days in Cuba which they are visiting on the request of the British government with the aim of highlighting growing relations between the two countries with a focus on academic and cultural ties as well as issues including agriculture and youth entrepreneurship. They will lay a wreath at the monument to Cuba’s national hero, poet Jose Marti, and attend an official dinner given by the country’s president, Miguel Diaz-Canel. Visits to a dance studio and a recording studio are also on the agenda. This historic visit will also see Charles take part in a roundtable discussion about environmental issues while Camilla will host talks on supporting those affected by domestic violence.
The tour promises to be a busy one for Charles and Camilla with over 50 engagements already lined up for the pair across thirteen days. They will help mark 40 years of independence in St. Lucia while their engagements in Barbados include a tour of hurricane preparedness work and a visit supporting women of influence in the country. Female empowerment also features heavily in the couple’s itinerary in St. Vincent and Grenadines as does youth opportunity while their time in St. Kitts and Nevis will highlight heritage work and local culture. The stop in Grenada includes engagements linked to conservation, particularly linked to agriculture and marine life, while sustainability will be a central plank of their time in the Cayman Islands.
As well as the historic royal first of landing in Cuba, this visit will also mark a debut for the Duchess of Cornwall in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and the Cayman Islands. And, of course, Royal Central will keep you up to date with all the details of this historic and highly anticipated tour.
