Royals on historic Cuba tour

BRITAIN’S Prince Charles and his wife Camilla embark on a Caribbean tour today during which they will become the first British royals to visit communist-run Cuba, even as the island faces rising hostility from Britain’s closest ally, the US.

The royals will kick off their 12-day tour of 10 islands with a visit to St Lucia, continuing onwards to Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada, according to their private office. Many of the islands are former British colonies and retain Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, as head of state.

On March 24, the royal couple will land in Havana for a three-day visit at the request of the British government to foster British-cuban ties. They will dine with Cuban president Miguel Díaz-canel, who replaced Raul Castro last year. Charles met the president last November on his 70th birthday, when Díaz-canel was visiting London. |