Prince William echoes Harry and Meghan's withdrawal statement after questionable Caribbean royal tour
Prince William sounded strikingly similar to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in his recent comments on the future of the British Commonwealth


Prince William's closing comments on his Caribbean royal tour with Kate Middleton appear to have been inspired by Harry and Meghan's statement on their withdrawal from the Royal Family last year.
- Prince William has made multiple comments on the Royal Family's relationship with the Commonwealth in light of the backlash towards his controversial Caribbean royal tour with Kate Middleton.
- The Duke of Cambridge's unprecedented message sounds strikingly similar to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's response to the Queen's statement on their royal withdrawal last year.
- In other royal news, Prince Charles to replace Queen with this important duty usually performed by the monarch.
Prince William appears to have taken a few notes from his younger brother, Prince Harry, in his final statement on his Caribbean royal tour with Kate Middleton.
The eight-day-long trip in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee has been tainted by controversy, with many critics slamming the couple's recent visits to Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas as 'tone-deaf' and 'colonial'.
It's understood that Prince William held 'emergency crisis talks' with royal aides following the backlash, shortly before revealing he supported the states' decisions to determine their own destinies at a reception in Nassau on Friday.
The Duke of Cambridge acknowledged the negative feedback once again online, posting a series of tweets to clarify his position on the British monarchy's relationship with the Commonwealth.
Prince William delivering a speech in Nassau, The Bahamas, on Friday, 25 March
"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," he wrote. "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."
Prince William's unprecedented statement sounded strikingly similar to a message shared by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with the public last spring.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Prince William's words echoed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's response to the Queen's statement on their withdrawal
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle famously stepped back as senior royals in January 2020, promising to continue serving the Crown from their new home in North America.
However, in February 2021, the Queen issued a statement that it was "not possible" for the couple to maintain their status as working members of the British monarchy. Their royal patronages were subsequently stripped and later redistributed to other members of the family, including Duchess Camilla and the Duchess of Cambridge.
In a seemingly pointed response to this snub, Harry and Meghan said, "We can all live a life of service. Service is universal." They also vowed to "remain committed to their duty and service to the U.K. and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role."

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
-
Lip contouring sounds a bit much, but this modern makeup technique is the 'soft' way to cheat a fuller pout
Think about how you use your favourite bronzer, then apply the same principle to your lips - easy!
By Naomi Jamieson
-
Kate Middleton declares baker boy hats back for 2025 in new Love, Actually-esque outfit
The Princess of Wales’s signature style is all about timelessness but that doesn’t mean that she never gets on board with trends.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton declares baker boy hats back for 2025 in new Love, Actually-esque outfit
The Princess of Wales’s signature style is all about timelessness but that doesn’t mean that she never gets on board with trends.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Prince George will start a new school this year and 'smart money' is on Kate and William choosing this one, says royal expert
Prince George only has just over a year left at Lambrook School and Emily Andrews believes there's a top contender for his next one.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Queen Camilla takes note of Kate Middleton's love of polka dots with charming collared number in Rome
If we had to pick the Princess of Wales’s favourite print it would be polka dots and Queen Camilla just emulated her style in Rome.
By Emma Shacklock
-
James Middleton says he 'had three mothers growing up' as he opens up on close-knit family bond
The Princess of Wales’s brother had several 'mothering figures' during his childhood and was 'fortunate' to have this tightknit support system.
By Emma Shacklock
-
We're surprised Meghan Markle just wore an £18 spring knit - and even more surprised it's still in stock
Meghan Markle never fails to look put-together and she’s shared a video that proves her off-duty outfits are just as elegant.
By Emma Shacklock
-
What earrings does Kate Middleton wear? The affordable brands she loves and where to buy her pieces
The Princess of Wales gravitates towards certain brands for her everyday earrings and many of them are still available right now.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Meghan Markle shares rare look inside her 'understated luxury' kitchen - her Le Creuset favourites have our seal of approval
With Love, Meghan gave fans an idea of what the Duchess of Sussex’s kitchen style is like and now we’ve had it confirmed in a sneak peek.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton's Mother's Day post has poignant detail that's easy to miss as Princess steps away from tradition
The Princess of Wales shared a video for Mother's Day this year and it included a detail that reminded us of a pivotal moment for her
By Emma Shacklock