As their first royal tour of the Caribbean wraps up, the friendly rivalry between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge returned during a sailing regatta in the choppy waters of the Bahamas.
Braving the rain, the Duke and Duchess headed to Montagu Beach for one of the country’s first sailing regattas since the global health crisis began. William and Kate cheered on young sailors from the Royal Nassau Sailing Club before they had their own turn on the waters. The race involved six boats, with a presentation onshore afterward for the top three finishers. It was a lucky day for Prince William, his boat, Susan Chase was one of those top three finishers. But it was a less-exciting pat on the back for his wife once they returned to the dock, both drenched, but smiling.
Sloop sailing has been a beloved Bahamian pastime since the 1960s. As its popularity grew, Prince William’s grandfather, Prince Philip watched the King’s Cup Series from the Royal Nassau Sailing Club in 1959. The very spot where the Duke and Duchess enjoyed one of their last afternoons in the Caribbean. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was even named an Honorary Commodore and Honorary Life Member of the Club during the trip.
The sailing event took place on the couple’s first full day in the Bahamas after they spent time in Belize and Jamaica. Prior to the race, the Duke and Duchess visited Sybil Strachan Primary School in the capital city of Nassau. There, they were greeted by staff, pupils, and the Minister of Education, Glenys Hanna-Martin.
The royal tour is in celebration of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. While abroad, the Duke and Duchess have attracted controversy as they were met with protests and calls for reparations over Britain’s past role in the slave trade.
The Duke said while on tour: “I strongly agree with my father, the Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year, that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history. I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened.”
The Duke and Duchess are now set to return home to England. This spring, the world will see other members of the Royal Family tour different parts of the Commonwealth including the Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
