The Commonwealth of The Bahamas bid farewell to Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at LPIA, March 26, 2022 after their completion of a three-day visit to The Bahamas on the Occasion of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration.
It marked final moments of their official regional tour of Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas.
The Duke of Cambridge conducted the Royal Salute and Inspection of the Guard for the final time, and he and the duchess departed on board the RAF Voyager at about 10pm. Also on board were staff members, and media personnel from the UK.
At the send-off ceremony were: Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Cornelius A. Smith and Lady Smith; the Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Mrs. Ann Marie Davis; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Aviation & Investments the Hon. I. Chester Cooper; Her Excellency Leslia Brice, Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM; and other officials.
Words from government officials at the LPIA send-off were: “Fantastic. Wonderful. Phenomenal” in describing the Official Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to The Bahamas, March 24-26, 2022.
It was the first Royal Visit for Prince William and Duchess Catherine to the region, which began March 19. The tour took place against the backdrop of small groups of anti-monarchy protesters in Belize and Jamaica. On Friday in The Bahamas a group of Rastafarians held an anti-colonialism protest outside Sybil Strachan Primary School where Their Royal Highnesses visited for a special assembly.
The Duke of Cambridge at the Governor General’s Reception at Baha Mar stated: “We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future”; and “relationships evolve; friendship endures.”
The governor-general said he was pleased to welcome the duke and duchess on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, on the occasion of Her Majesty The Queen’s 70 th Anniversary on the throne. For The Bahamas it was a three-island destination visit: New Providence, Abaco, and Grand Bahama where the royal couple enjoyed unique cultural experiences, engaged in the natural charm of residents, and interacted at official functions with dignitaries.
Some of the highlights included cultural show inclusive of Junkanoo rush-out and rake ‘n scrape music in downtown Nassau; Regatta at Montagu foreshore; honouring of health care professionals who work on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic; and visit to Sybil Strachan Primary School, engaging in a special assembly with students. There were also: laying of a wreath at the Hurricane Dorian memorial site in Marsh Harbour, Abaco; and speaking with survivors; visiting the Fish Fry on that island to sample local cuisine. On Grand Bahama, a visit to the children’s home, and tour of the facilities of Coral Vita, which won the Earthshot Prize in 2021, the newly minted global environmental initiative of the Duke of Cambridge.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas gained independence from Great Britain on July 10, 1973, but remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as head.
