The Duchess of Cambridge is reportedly planning to make shorter solo trips abroad, focusing on subjects that matter to her, as she and Prince William aim to do things 'the Cambridge way' going forward. The potential change follows a tour of the Caribbean that was marred by protests and accusations of 'tone deafness'.
A source told the Evening Standard: 'Catherine has supported her husband magnificently and with real style too. She is passionate about early childhood development and learning for example.' The Cambridges faced criticism during their eight-day tour of Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas, after being seen greeting crowds behind a wire mesh fence in Kingston, while images of them standing in the back of a Land Rover during a military parade in Jamaica were denounced as smacking of 'colonialism'.
As the trip came to a close, the Duke issued a statement insisting it was up to the people to decide if he should ever be head of the Commonwealth. A source said: 'The prince believes that for him, the days of “never complain” are over. He won’t be speaking out regularly but believes if the monarchy has something to say, then it should say it.'
Another insider added that William and Kate plan to 'rip up the rulebook' and do things their way. The source told the Sun: 'William and Kate will modernise how they work. It’s a breath of fresh air. They were bruised by attacks that their Caribbean trip harked back to the colonial age. In future they will rip up the rule-book and do things “The Cambridge Way”. It is not a criticism of how it was done in the past. But times are changing.'
In his statement, 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.'
