Prince Charles’ Caribbean tour is doing wonders for the British monarchy. Latifa Yedroudj, a journalist for Express, said that the future king was able to woo a Caribbean leader after the latter’s nation once voted to abolish the monarchy. Ralph Gonsalves, leader of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, declared that he would no longer carry out a second vote after losing a poll in 2009 to replace Queen Elizabeth II by an elected president. After meeting Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles this week, reporters asked Gonsalves if he would ever hold another referendum to put an end to the monarchy. “Not with me, somebody else may do that, not me,” he said. During his speech on Wednesday, Gonsalves described himself as an old anti-colonial fighter. “St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the only country in the Caribbean where the matter has been put to the people in respect of doing away with the monarchy and having a homegrown ceremonial president… They were defeated in a referendum and the Queen has in the country, therefore, political legitimacy in addition to a juridical one,” he said. The leader also said that he is not a monarchist but has accepted the monarchy because Her Majesty is not only legally but also politically the Queen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In related news, Prince Charles and Camilla will be in the Caribbean until March 27 for their 12-day tour. On Thursday, they arrived in St. Kitts and Nevis to visit the Hermitage Plantation House. For their outing, Camilla wore a blue kaftan over her white loose trousers and Prince Charles donned a beige suit. While in St. Kitts and Nevis, Prince Charles also launched a project to give Commonwealth students the chance to study subjects at Cambridge University. Scholarships under the future King’s name would be offered in the global issues he has championed throughout the years, specifically on climate change, sustainability, and the blue economy. Photo: Getty Images/Chris Jackson<doc-sep>Charles began his 12-day tour of the region on St Lucia and is due to visit several other islands that are also former British colonies. LONDON - On the first leg of his Caribbean tour, Britain’s Prince Charles touted a “vital blue economy,” built on sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, as part of the solution to climate change, noting that rising sea levels represent an especially severe threat to nearby island nations. Charles began his 12-day tour of the region on St Lucia and is due to visit several other islands that are also former British colonies and retain Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth, as head of state. The prince, an outspoken environmentalist, in a speech shortly after arriving called attention to efforts to create sustainable agriculture and hailed local entrepreneurs taking risks to protect the environment “Climate change... poses nothing short of an existential threat to this island as it does to every part of this region,” he said at Vieux Fort at the southern tip of the island. The British royal spoke just a few weeks after St Lucia marked the 40th anniversary of its independence in 1979. Charles, the heir to the British throne, pointed to a project that aims to map St Lucia’s seabed. It is supported by the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme, which was launched by the UK government in 2016 and aims to support marine economies, nicknamed blue economies, of 17 Commonwealth small island states. Charles said the initiative holds “the potential to help develop St Lucia’s vital blue economy in significant and sustainable ways.” The prince was expected to fly to Barbados later on Sunday, where he will join his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who was likely to accompany him on the remainder of the tour. Charles will also travel to St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada, in addition to communist-run Cuba, the first time a British royal will make such a visit. The trip to Cuba is meant to underscore warming British-Cuban ties and was scheduled in coordination with the British government.<doc-sep>Prince Charles 'dancing on table' at dinner says George Clooney FREE now and never miss the top Royal stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top Royal stories again. When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall have announced the destinations of their next royal tour. Commencing on March 17, the couple will be island hopping in the Caribbean. They will visit Commonwealth nations in the region to celebrate the Monarchy’s relationship with the former British territories. The British Government has requested one extra destination on their itinerary however, the seldom seen nation of Cuba. Prince Charles will be the next head of the Commonwealth, so the trip remains special for his personal connection as well as political ties. The PRince spoke about the importance of the Commonwealth in November last year while visiting Ghana. He said: “It is clear to me that the Commonwealth remains as vital today, as it has ever been. "It brings us together, building bridges between our governments and our people, and offering the practical means to work together for a better future.” Prince Charles and Camilla will be setting foot in Cuba as part of their next royal tour. Starting on March 17, the royals will visit a number of islands in the Caribbean, including St Lucia and Barbados. They will stay in the area before jetting to Cuba on March 24, where they will engage in a number of cultural activities. Their visit will start with an official dinner hosted by President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel. READ MORE: Charles will be 'doing granddad' after birth of Harry and Meghan's baby Prince Charles and Camilla Caribbean trip: How Royals will become FIRST in historic visit While there they will be undertaking a varied programme of activities meant to strengthen ties between the UK and Cuba. Their first act will be laying a wreath at the memorial of a Cuban national hero - essayist and poet José Martí. A specific focus on cultural and academic connections will continue from there, with key themes such as the arts and youth entrepreneurship. Their presence in the country is a particular landmark for the UK however, as it may signify a turning point for UK-Cuban relations. READ MORE: Meghan and Harry in MARITAL TIFF due to Duchess' habit The Royal Family hasn't visited Cuba since Fidel Castro took power in 1959 Why is Cuba an important destination for the Royal Family? The Royal Family has not set foot in Cuba since a Communist regime was established in the country in 1959. Charles and Camilla’s latest visit may be used to explore the possibility of fostering new government connections. According to the Prince of Wales’ website, the Duke and Duchess will be visiting to highlight “the growing bilateral relationship with the UK.” READ MORE: Charles and Camilla Caribbean trip MAPPED Barack Obama's Cuba visit may have empowered the government to reestablish a dialogue with Cuba<doc-sep>
William and Harry surprise Prince Charles and Camilla at wedding The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will be travelling to the Caribbean on March 17 this year for a royal tour. The couple will spend two days in the region travelling around different countries and islands before returning almost a fortnight later on March 29. While there, they will take on some 50 different engagements. Their next tour will take them around six different Commonwealth nations, and they will make a special stop on request of the British government. Where are Prince Charles and Camilla going on their royal tour? Charles and Camilla will visit six different countries in the Caribbean. They will visit these countries in the following order: - St Lucia (March 17) - Barbados (March 19) - St Vincent and The Grenadines (March 20) - St Kitts and Nevis (March 21) - Grenada (March 23) READ MORE: William and Kate AVOID looking like Charles and Diana Prince Charles and Camilla Caribbean trip MAPPED: Where are Prince Charles and Camilla going? The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will also visit 10 different islands while in the Caribbean and the overseas territory of the Cayman Islands. After they have completed their duties in the Caribbean, they have been tasked by the British Government to visit Cuba. According to the Prince of Wales’ official website, Prince Charles has visited 45 of the 53 Commonwealth nations. Camilla, on the other hand, has only visited 21 of these in tandem with her husband. READ MORE: Camilla EXUDES style at Cheltenham races day two Charles and Camilla will visit Cuba as part of their trip This will be the first time both Camilla and Charles have visited Cuba. They will land in the country on Sunday, March 24, for a trip which is meant to highlight similarities between Cuba and the UK. This includes exploring cultural and academic connections, and themes of arts, youth entrepreneurship, heritage restoration and sustainable agriculture. The royal visit to Cuba could end up being a particularly important visit for future international relations. READ MORE: How KAte gave Camilla SHOCK GLANCE at royal wedding Barack Obama set the stage for new relations with Cuba No Prime Minister has yet set foot in Communist Cuba, but organising a royal visit exercises a “soft power” according to the Daily Telegraph. This is because while the royals are a kind of UK official, they exercise no governmental power. Since Barack Obama laid groundwork for international relations by visiting the country in 2016, the government is likely testing what can be done to improve relations between Cuba and the UK. This means Charles and Camilla’s visit could end opening more definitive political dialogue between the two countries in the future.