The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ride in a vintage Land Rover used by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Jamaica
(Picture: REUTERS)Keir Starmer has said Prince William “could have gone further” in condemning slavery during his and Kate’s Caribbean tour.
The duke, 39, and duchess, 40, drew excitement from crowds throughout their eight-day trip to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas.
However, the trip suffered moments of controversy as the pair were met with anti-colonial protests from locals and calls for slavery reparations from the monarchy in Jamaica.
In response, William denounced slavery as “abhorrent” and said “it should never have happened”.
He also declared that “who the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in the future isn’t what is on my mind”.
However, Labour leader Sir Keir has waded into the row by saying that William could have gone further in condemning slavery.
“William and Kate went on an important trip with important messages, including messages about the changing nature of the Commonwealth going forwards, and that is difficult,” he said during an LBC phone-in on Monday.
Sir Keir added it was a “bit odd” for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to ride in the back of the same Land Rover that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh used.
“In a sense, what William and Kate were doing – which I applaud – is saying: ‘We’re looking to the future’, but that all harked of the past, so I didn’t quite see how that actually fit that well with the aim of their trip.”
The Labour leader said: “Before I was a politician I was a lawyer and I did a lot of work in Commonwealth countries, including in the Caribbean and in Africa. I’ve been to Jamaica many, many times and the Bahamas and Barbados with work. I know just how strong the connection is between those countries and ours. It’s very, very deep. But of course that relationship changes – I want it to endure, I want it to continue and I think it will.”
Sir Keir added: “But, in the end, William and Kate are right that time changes things and we need to make sure that relationship is fit for the future as well as the past.
“Now, I don’t undermine the Commonwealth here – I love the Commonwealth. That’s why I spend a lot of my time working there. I think it’s very important going forward but it needs to modernise as we go forward so we can strengthen those bonds.”
Asked if William should have gone further in condemning slavery, he replied: “He could have gone further but it’s a difficult one and he may go further in the future, I think.”
During the tour, the couple were accused of being “tone deaf” after images were taken of the Cambridges shaking hands with Kingston crowds behind a wire mesh fence.
Images of the royals riding in the back of the Land Rover were also denounced as harking back to colonial days.
In a statement following the trip, the duke said: “I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future. In Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon.
“But we have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with communities in all three countries, understanding more about the issues that matter most to them.
“Catherine and I are committed to service. For us that’s not telling people what to do. It is about serving and supporting them in whatever way they think best, by using the platform we are lucky to have.
“It is why tours such as this reaffirm our desire to serve the people of the Commonwealth and to listen to communities around the world.
“Who the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in the future isn’t what is on my mind. What matters to us is the potential the Commonwealth family has to create a better future for the people who form it, and our commitment to serve and support as best we can.”
