William’s crisis talks after tour blunders
Deflated Prince renews vow to modernise Royal Family
PRINCE William has held crisis meetings with advisors after being left scarred by the criticism of his controversial Caribbean tour.
The Duke of Cambridge told aides he is determined to modernise the monarchy after last month’s PR blunders.
Immediately after their eight days in Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas, the Duke and Duchess summoned their senior staff to a “clear the air meeting” where he blasted the “haphazard” tour, royal sources have revealed.
An insider said: “He delivered a more than abrupt assessment of the team.”
The couple were left reeling over protests from Caribbean nations demanding reparations and apologies from the monarchy over slavery, as well as talk of becoming republics.
William and Kate were slammed for choosing to ride in an open-top Land Rover in Jamaica, the same vehicle used by the Queen in the 1960s, with critics suggesting that it was a clumsy homage to a bygone era.
Sources revealed William, 39, made “repeated attempts” to question that
move but was told his Jamaican hosts had specifically requested it.
William and Kate have personally interviewed two “star” candidates put forward by advisors to head up a new communications team. But they were discarded as “not being anywhere close to up to it”, it is understood.
Sources said the couple told advisors to start looking beyond Whitehall and be more diverse in hiring.
Another palace insider said: “William was totally deflated after the tour. If William wants to be seen as a moderniser, he needs to get his house in order.”