The Duchess of Cambridge wore a dreamy sundress in a shirred tropical fabric that echoed the royal blue of Belize’s flag. Featuring a square neckline and puff sleeves, the floral dress is by Tory Burch and retails at $525. She is accessorized with statement boho earrings by Sézane and wedges that the duchess wore back in 2o14, during the Cambridges’ tour of Australia. We think she did an OK job of dancing in wedges on the sand! Yesterday was Kate and William’s first full day of a tour that will see them visit Jamaica and the Bahamas in addition to Belize. Their first stop was a traditional cacao farm and shop where the couple had a go at grinding cocoa pods using a pestle and mortar made from volcanic rock. “I think our children will be very jealous!" Kate said. They then met members of the Garifuna community at the beachfront village of Hopkins, where Kate was filmed shimmying up to her husband to tempt him onto the dance floor. Controversy has already struck the duke and duchess’s tour, with protests forcing them to cancel a scheduled visit to the village of Indian Creek. Locals were pictured holding signs saying ‘Prince William Leave Our Land’ and objected to the royals ‘colonialism.’ Kate and William had planned to land a helicopter on the village’s football pitch without first consulting the community, and a charity of which William is patron (Flora and Fauna International) are currently in a dispute with the Q’eqehi Maya people over the rights to 12,000 acres of land. The FFI has earmarked the parcel of land for wildlife conservation, but locals are fighting to regain indigenous lands lost in the colonial era. Protests also await the royal couple in Jamaica, with a demonstration calling for slavery reparations scheduled to take place when Kate and William arrive. A coalition of Jamaican activists called the Advocates Network has penned an open letter to the monarchy which reads, “We will not participate in your Platinum Jubilee celebration! “We see no reason to celebrate 70 years of the ascension of your grandmother to the British throne because her leadership, and that of her predecessors, have perpetuated the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind. “We are of the view that an apology for British crimes against humanity, including but not limited to, the exploitation of the indigenous people of Jamaica, the transatlantic trafficking of Africans, the enslavement of Africans, indentureship and colonialization, is necessary to begin a process of healing, forgiveness, reconciliation and compensation.” The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s tour has been described as a ‘charm offensive’ to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee and is seen as an attempt to persuade Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean not to follow Barbados’ example in getting rid of the monarchy. Campaigners hope that Barbados’ recent decision to remove the queen as head of state will have a ‘domino effect’ across the Caribbean. Next up, When the Time Comes, Where Will Queen Elizabeth II Be Buried?
