Charles and Camilla to visit Cayman

| 15/02/2019 | 61 Comments
Cayman News Service

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall

(CNS): The Cayman Islands is preparing for a major royal visit, as the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be arriving here at the end of next month. Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, will travel to Grand Cayman from Cuba, where the couple will be embarking on the first-ever official British royal visit to that country. Part of a wider Caribbean tour, they will also visit a number of ‘Commonwealth realms’ in the region. They arrive in Grand Cayman on the afternoon of Wednesday, 27 March, where they will officially open the renovated Owen Roberts International Airport.

It is rumoured that Prince Charles and Camilla made unofficial private visits to Owens Island, a tiny privately-owned island in the sound of Little Cayman, several times before Charles married Diana. However, the heir to the throne will be on his second official visit to the Cayman Islands and his wife will be on her first.

They will visit all three Cayman Islands and attend a series of engagements focusing on sustainability and marine conservation. The visit was announced by the governor and premier at a joint press briefing at Government House Friday morning, when they said the visit was a “strong signal of the UK’s enduring commitment” to the Cayman Islands.

This will be the most important royal visit since the Queen came in 1994, and Cayman Islands Governor Martyn Roper said he was delighted about it and that many of the events they attend will be open to the public.

“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,” he said as he urged the public to come out and greet them.

The visit coincides with the year-long celebrations for the 60-year anniversaries of the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms and Cayman’s first Constitution, which it adopted after the jurisdiction opted to stick with the British Empire when Jamaica made the decision to seek independence.

Premier Alden McLaughlin said he was delighted about the visit and the Prince of Wales’ return. “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.”

He said it reinforced the ties to the UK and described it as a magnificent promotional opportunity for the Cayman Islands.

As well as attending the official opening of the new airport terminal, during their two-day visit the royal couple will attend events at the Botanic Gardens and Pedro St James. The Duchess will officially open the new Jasmine Villa Hospice and will visit the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre and George Town Primary School.

The Prince of Wales will also meet local hurricane relief personnel and is expected to officially open the swimming pool on Cayman Brac.

As the last stop on their regional tour, which will include six other countries and more than 50 engagements, the couple will travel to the UK directly from Grand Cayman, returning home on 29 March, which could very well be an historic day for Britain and the as yet unchanged ‘Brexit Day’.

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Comments (61)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Nice to see that someone actually tells the truth.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caQleFJzk0M

  2. Anonymous says:

    Was Camilla married when she visited with Charles before? I would love to see Meghan and Harry but not these two. And yes, I did think Diana was the best part of the royal family and her children and their partners are continuing her legacy.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Excuse me 7:46…….
    Please fact check and you will see the truth that yes Guantanamo is USA but they are allies with the UK and yes the war ship is there at all times. I look forward to you saying back that you found out this to be true.
    Are you aware that China and Russia have sided with Maduro and this is looking more like a CARIBBEAN war any day. America and the UK are with the other guy Guido so stay tuned to the fireworks south of Cayman???
    Maduro is not sustainable but as Assad of Syria still hangs on, he, Maduro, might be in there for years. Who knows??

  4. Anonymous says:

    Wow, that good old fashioned “Caymankind” welcome sure being rolled out on here…

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  5. Anonymous says:

    The DEH need to make sure the trash is properly collected before the Royals visit Cayman, even if it means overtime.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    its a pity the airport won’t be finished on time….

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    • Anonymous says:

      He coming to break ground for the cruise piers.

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    • Cess Pita says:

      Maybe by their next visit, but they sure will be stunned by those magnificent arches soaring ever higher like our national airline’s subsidy.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Couldn’t Philip come instead. He could give some driving lessons to these idiots on the road.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Some of the comments are disgusting. I am a Caymanian born and bred unless you classify Cayman Bracers as not being Caymanians and I have always respected and appreciated the Royalties. I am looking forward to their visit although I guess they will be surprised and disappointed in not finding many of us here. I pray for their safe journey and look forward to seeing them, but more I pray for the visit of his son Harry and his charming wife. May God bless their entire family,

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    • Anonymous says:

      Are the Cayman Is.Government paying all expenses for the two of them ? If so what are we getting in return ?

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    • anon says:

      you sound more like a drama queen to me. Guess you live for day time drama. smh

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  9. Monarchist says:

    Personally I would abolish all parliaments in the Commonwealth and revert to an absolute monarchy. Yes there have been a few incompetent kings or queens, but breeding wins in the end. The son of a carpenter is likely to also have the talent to be a carpenter; so it is with Royal families.

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    • Also a Monarchist says:

      And yet those are jobs they keep no matter how well they are performed. I think that is why most people feel that anyone could do the ‘job’, and the only argument in favour of those particular people doing it is that they have, as you indicated, made a trade out of it which they instruct each other in and ply together. Any family could do that. Why them? And so it comes down to, “well, because they’re the Royal Family”. It’s a tautology at the end of the day. Not sure it requires talent.

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  10. Elvis says:

    Awesome, can’t wait……..,to fly off to south beach

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Well “Whoop dee freakin do!”

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  12. Void says:

    The void offers their kind greetings to Charles and Camilla.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Pleaseeee give us a national holiday.
    Orherwise idc

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Don’t forget to visit the dump. Cayman’s #1 landmark

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    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t worry they cannot miss Mt Trashmore.

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    • Anonymous says:

      And take them down to Dog City and Swamp to see how the other half live. Maybe they could throw a couple of dollars to the residents there. Alms for the poor matey.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    Anyone remember the previous time Charlie came here? Can’t recall the exact comment now but it was pretty uncomplimentary and definitely included the word ‘filthy’. Be interesting to see what he says this time.

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    • Anonymous says:

      He certainly enjoyed dancing at the old Holiday Inn, and Wellie’s cool spot with the rugby club.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I seem to remember him saying Cayman should be careful of losing its charm with over-development, especially on 7-mile beach. He seemed concerned by the height of the condos being built. I don’t remember him saying the island was filthy…

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    • Cayman Gal says:

      Well now he’ll be hard pressed to find an actual Caymanian so at least the filth won’t be us this time.

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    • Anonymous says:

      3:41 pm: I doubt that very much. That has to be false.

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      • Anonymous says:

        4:42 I think he was quoted as saying something like Grand Cayman was the dirtiest place he’d ever visited in the Caribbean. Whether he said it or not is another matter.

        • Anonymous says:

          If by “dirty” he was talking about the tax evasion and the local corruption he will find little has changed.

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Do people here really care about the Royals? England has some ancient practices to do away with and the fact they impose these same practices on it’s territories is sickening. In these modern times we’re still talking about Kings and Queens?!

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    • Say it like it is says:

      3.37pm I assume you are “Caymanian born and bred”, if you don’t want to talk about British Royalty by all means sever your ties and become independent. You can still talk about your very own “royals” aka politicians, who you vilify every day for their corruption and incompetence.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I assume you’re an immigrant worker probably of the white persuasion that likes to be referred to as “expat” to differentiate yourself from the ethnic nationalities that work here.

        Now that we’re done “assuming” – for your information the vast majority of people in Cayman are very welcoming to the Royals and love being a commonwealth. Hence why the politicians and very vocal minority who keep touting for independence get shutdown quick. The most negative comments I’ve ever heard locally about “the royals” were mostly made by British expats and one Caymanian in particular. A politician named Mckeeva Bush. And most of us give zero “fox” when he speaks.

        But you probably already know that because you sound like you are an “expert” in local culture and ideas. You’re obviously and “expat” who has integrated into the local community, who also has many, MANY Caymanian friends.

        Oh… wait… there I go assuming again.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Royal thieves bredda

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Republic now.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    I am thrilled and excited.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Better dust off allayou fascinators and spiked heels and get ready!, royalty coming look for allawe.

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    • Anonymous says:

      You won’t get anywhere close to them as Dart Royalty social climbers and hangers on will get there first.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    12 48? You are ungrateful and unthankful.
    England has given us military protection by keeping a warship at Guantanamo at all times.
    We have gotten good police and a good educational system.
    Our family members remain thankful for the Crown and the example that our gracious Queen has set for us.
    Let us thank God for what we have and know we are not in Venezuela right now.
    Can we just count our blessings and graciously enjoy this Royal visit?

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Finally a reason to get the area from airport into town pass pass Little Darlings clean up. Its an embarrassing eyesore.

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  22. Anonymous says:

    He’s not invited.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    When Cayman had nothing U K would not even look this way, now that we have something for them to get, they realize us. Until In the seventies when we seamen was passing through to join our ships they would only give
    us a few days to stay, then we had to get out, sure is different now that we have something

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    • Say it like it is. says:

      12.48pm, it sure is different now, all Caymanians can apply for full British passports and thousands already have them so you can stay as long as you like, get a job without a permit, have your children educated free at state schools, get free medical treatment and apply for benefits if you need them, and visit the U.S. without a visa.

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      • Anonymous says:

        1:55 pm all because they can get something in return, like plenty high paying jobs to send back home plenty money

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  24. Anonymous says:

    Who?

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