Kate Middletonis honoring her host country of Jamaica with thesecond glamorous lookof her andPrince William’s Caribbean tour.
The couple attended a special dinner on Wednesday evening at King’s House, the official residence of the Governor-General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, who representsQueen Elizabeth. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are currently on the second leg of their tour of the Caribbean in honor of the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee.
For the event, Kate wore a sparkling green Jenny Packham gown, paying homage to the color of Jamaica’s flag. She wore her hair in a chic updo and accessorized her look with emerald jewels on loan from the Queen.
She also wore her special insignia, the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victoria Order (GCVO) and the Royal Family Order badge, which she reserves for formal royal occasions such as state dinners and banquets.
Kate Middleton.Samir Hussein/wireimage
Kate Middleton and Prince William.Samir Hussein/wireimage
For the first time, the royal couple is facingsignificant backlashon an official tour. Although they have receivedwarm welcomes from many locals, they are also encountering mounting tensions in the Caribbean nations where William’s grandmother,Queen Elizabeth, remains head of state.
Kate Middleton.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Outside the U.K., the Queen remains head of state in 14 nations around the world (including Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas) — an arrangement that critics say is excruciatingly outdated.
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Protests in Jamaica and earlier in Belize are only the latest evidence of the historic shift underway: Another Caribbean country, Barbados, broke ties with the Queen in November — voting in its first president — andJamaica may soon follow suit.
Patricia Allen, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Governor General of Jamaica Sir Patrick Allen pose during a dinner reception at King’s House.Samir Hussein/wireimage
During a meeting with Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, earlier on Wednesday,Holness directly addressedhis country’s intention to break away from the British monarchy.
Sources tell PEOPLE that William and Kate were aware of the situation and the protests. Any decision about becoming a republic is for the people and government of Jamaica, the sources point out. William is expected to acknowledge the issue of slavery in his speech on Wednesday evening.
source: people.com
