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Prince William and Kate arrive in Jamaica for royal tour amid protests – best photos

HELLO!'s royal editor is on tour with the Cambridges

kate middleton arrives jamaica
Emily Nash
Emily Nash - London
Royal EditorLondon
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kate middleton waving outside plane© Photo: Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge bid an official farewell to Belize on Tuesday, following a whirlwind four-day stay in the country. William and Kate were pictured arriving at Philip S. W Goldson International Airport, where they said goodbye to their hosts and waved for the cameras before embarking on their plane.

SEE: The two PDA tour moments between William and Kate you might have missed

The Duchess once again showed off her sartorial prowess in a red YSL jacket and flared white trousers.

The second leg of their tour will see William and Kate travel to Jamaica for two nights. Activities will include engaging with the Jamaican Defence Force and celebrating the seminal legacy of Bob Marley and other ground-breaking Jamaican musicians, alongside some of tomorrow's stars.

WATCH: Prince William and Kate touch down in Jamaica after travelling from Belize on their royal tour

william and kate middleton airplane© Photo: Getty Images

A view of the RAF Voyager Plane that transported the royals from Belize to Jamaica.

Keep clicking for more photos

READ: Prince William and Kate's secret day date in Belize revealed

kate middleton prince william helicopter© Photo: Getty Images

William and Kate took a helictoper to arrive at the airport.

READ: What do the royals eat when they fly first class?

kate middleton walking runway© Photo: Getty Images

William and Kate arrived at the Belize City airport on Tuesday morning, officially putting a wrap on the first leg of their Caribbean royal tour.

The Duchess, 40, looked gorgeous in her red and white outfit, accessorising with a small white Mulberry handbag.

The couple were waved off by a group of dignitaries after being given a red-carpet farewell with a guard of honour present.

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kate middleton airport taveling outfit© Photo: Getty Images

A closer look at Kate's ultra-chic travelling outfit.

kate middleton boarding plane prince william

Their short stay in Belize saw many highlights for the Cambridges, including dancing at a Garifuna festival, visiting the impressive Mayan archaeological site that is Caracol, and attending a special reception on the last night of their visit.

It was at that reception that William made reference to his grandmother the Queen, who is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee this year.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honoured to convey the very warmest wishes from my grandmother, The Queen of Belize, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee," he said. "She always speaks so fondly of her visits to Belize, which of course included a memorable stop here at Cahal Pech in 1994. And she may have mentioned something about a gibnut."

The Duke also spoke fondly of his wife, saying: "Catherine and I have been deeply touched by the warm welcome Belizeans have given us. We only wish we could have stayed longer."

SEE: Duchess Kate wows in magenta silk gown at reception

kate middleton plane jamaica© Photo: Getty Images

After a two-hour flight, the Cambridges touched down in Kingston, Jamaica, arriving at Norman Manley International Airport.

There was a change of outfit for Kate, who paid tribute to her host country wearing a yellow dress by Roksanda to reflect the gold colour in Jamaica's flag.

The Duchess also switched up her hairstyle, sensibly opting for a sleek ponytail given the strong winds.

kate middleton shaking hands in jamaica© Photo: Getty Images

They were greeted on the tarmac at Norman Manley International Airport by a line-up of dignitaries including former Miss World Lisa Hanna from the People's Nation Party, representing leader of the Opposition Mark Golding, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith and Chief of the defence staff Rear Admiral Antonette Wemess Gorman.

kate middleton roksanda dress© Photo: Getty Images

William and Kate jetted in from Belize hours after campaigners gathered outside the High Commissioner’s residence in Kingston calling for the UK to apologise and pay reparations for slavery.

HELLO! understands the Duke and Duchess are aware of the protests and that William will acknowledge the situation in a speech on Wednesday night.

kate middleton sitting airport© Photo: Getty Images

The royal couple are in Jamaica, the fourth largest of the Queen's overseas realms, to mark the Platinum Jubilee, but also the 60th anniversary of Jamaica's Independence from Britain.

kate middleton jamaica government

William and Kate were then whisked away to an official meeting with Sir Patrick Linton Allen, Governor General, and his wife Lady Denise Allen at King's House.

Ahead of their arrival, up to 100 protestors had gathered at the residence following an open letter to the royal couple signed by a coalition of Jamaican politicians, business leaders, doctors and musicians.

They wrote: "We note with great concern your visit to our country Jamaica, during a period when we are still in the throes of a global pandemic and bracing for the full impact of another global crisis associated with the Russian/Ukraine war.

"We see no reason to celebrate 70 years of the ascension of your grandmother to the British throne because her leadership, and that of her predecessors, has perpetuated the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind."

The view has been backed by opposition leader Mark Golding, who has said he intends to raise the issue of a public apology with the royal couple when they meet.

Earlier it was reported by The Independent that Jamaica has already begun the process of removing The Queen as head of state with the appointment of a senior government figure to see the nation through its transition to a republic.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness committed to making Jamaica a republic during his election campaign, but a referendum is required to make the change. But there remains some opposition to the move from some in the Caribbean nation, which the Queen has visited six times during her 70-year reign.

kate middleton governor general

Sir Patrick, the Queen's representative in the country, told the couple: "We are very pleased to welcome you. We are very fortunate in Jamaica to have the Queen visit us six times."

During the meeting, William was called upon to carry out a duty on behalf of his grandmother - an investiture of Jubilee medals, honouring the careers of the heads of the various emergency services and the chief medical officer.

kate middleton jamaica© Photo: Getty Images

William and Kate's next engagement took them to Trench Town, the birthplace of reggae music in the heart of Kingston. The historic Kingston neighbourhood was home to Bob Marley and where he wrote No Woman No Cry.

They were guided around by Babsy Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and Mark Golding, leader of the opposition and MP for Trenchtown and a vocal supporter of the campaign for reparations to be paid for slavery. Ahead of the royal visit he said he would be raising the issue with the second in line to the throne.

kate middleton football stars© Photo: Getty Images

The royals also met some of Jamaica's top sports stars and were joined at the event by England and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling, whose parents are Jamaican, and Jamaica and Aston Villa player Leon Bailey, to watch footballers from Kingston College, winners of the Manning Cup. They also met Olympic gold and silver medal-winning sprinters Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelley Ann Fraser-Price, as well as members of Jamaica’s bobsled team, who competed in the Beijing Winter Olympics.

kate middleton bob marley© Photo: Getty Images

The couple then visited Trench Town Culture Yard Museum, on the tenement yard where reggae legend Bob Marley lived and played with other leading artists.

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