by Chloe Foussianes From Town & Country Magazine

Pince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, have quite the trip planned for later this spring. From the March 17-29, the royal couple will be traveling through the Caribbean, visiting a whopping six different countries and one overseas territory.

As a part of their tour, Charles and Camilla will spend a few days in Cuba. In doing so, they’ll make the first ever official visit to the country by a member of the royal family.

Here’s what we know about their jam-packed trip.

THEY’LL VISIT A TOTAL OF 10 SEPARATE ISLANDS.

Charles and Camilla are set to make stops in St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands. The majority of these are members of the Commonwealth, with two notable exceptions: the Cayman Islands, which are a British overseas territory, and Cuba.

THEIR TIME IN CUBA WILL CERTAINLY BE HISTORIC.

The royal couple are visiting to “highlight the growing bilateral relationship with the U.K. and showcase some of the cultural links between the two countries,” per the Prince of Wales’s website.

Overseas royal trips such as this are planned by the U.K.’s Foreign Office, and generally have the aim of exercising a “soft power” unlike that of politicians, as the Telegraph explains. No British Prime Minister has visited communist Cuba, but following Barack Obama’s historic trip to the country in 2016, it seems that the U.K. is testing the waters.

IT WILL BE CAMILLA’S FIRST VISIT TO SEVERAL OF THESE COUNTRIES.

Whereas Charles has been to all of them but Cuba—not surprising, given that he’s been to 45 out of the 53 nations in the Commonwealth—Camilla will see many of these places for the first time. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Christopher and Nevis, Grenada, and the Cayman Islands will all be new to her.

For more on this story go to: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a26357242/prince-charles-camilla-caribbean-royal-tour-2019/

Governor and Premier Announce an Official Royal Visit to the Cayman Islands

His Excellency The Governor, Martyn Roper and The Honourable Premier, Alden McLaughlin made the official announcement during a press conference at the Government House this morning..

At a joint press conference at Government House this morning, His Excellency The Governor, Martyn Roper and The Honourable Premier, Alden McLaughlin announced that Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will pay an official visit to the Cayman Islands on 27 and 28 March. 

Planning for the visit has been underway for some weeks and is being led by the Governor’s Office together with the Cabinet Office, Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport and the RCIPS.

Their Royal Highnesses are due to arrive at Owen Roberts International Airport following a visit to Cuba.  A packed programme is planned which will include the official opening of the new airport terminal, visits to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, events at the Botanic Gardens and Pedro St James and the official opening of the new Jasmine Villa (hospice and palliative care).

Many of the events will be open to the public and details of these opportunities to welcome Their Royal Highnesses will be announced later.

Governor Martyn Roper said “I am delighted that Their Royal Highnesses will be visiting us here in the Cayman Islands.  This will be the most important visit since Her Majesty The Queen arrived in Cayman in 1994.  I know the real affection that Caymanians feel towards The Royal Family and the visit is a great chance to celebrate our links with the UK and show The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall all that these wonderful islands have to offer.  I hope as many of you as possible will come out to greet them.”

Premier Alden Mclaughlin said “On behalf of my Government and the people of the Cayman Islands, we look forward to welcoming His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as well as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall to the Cayman Islands next month. I am pleased that His Royal Highness is able to return to see us. While we have developed and changed since his last visit many years ago, I know that Their Royal Highnesses will see that our people are as friendly, warm, and welcoming as ever.  We look forward to showing them the very best of our Islands and our people during their visit. We have been privileged to receive visits by other members of the British Royal Family over the years and, like many others, I also remember fondly the two visits of Her Majesty The Queen to our shores in 1983 and 1994. This upcoming visit by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall during the year that we are celebrating our Coat of Arms and our first Constitution is greatly appreciated and reinforces our ties to the United Kingdom.”