Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex’s 2022 Caribbean Royal Tour in Photos – Town & Country

Posted: May 6, 2022 at 1:03 am

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Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, just wrapped up a week-long tour of the Caribbean in celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubliee. They traveled to four Commonwealth realmsnations with Queen Elizabeth as their monarch and head of stateand their trip came in the wake of Prince William and Kate Middleton's controversial tour of the region.

During the Cambridges visit, there were calls for reparations, anti-monarchy protests, and news that Jamaica is moving to forge a new republic and to remove the Queen as head of state. Ahead of the Wessexes' tour, the Palace announced they would be cancelling a tour stop to Grenada, and during the tour, they also faced protests.

"In consultation with the Government of Grenada and on the advice of the Governor General, The Earl and Countess of Wessex's visit to Grenada has been postponed," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "The Earl and Countess hope to visit at a later date." According to People, "the country didn't feel the short visit was worth their resources and taxpayer money."

The Queen's youngest son and his wife continued on with their planned visit to Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Antigua & Barbuda. Scroll on for all the best photos from their royal tour.

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Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward arrive in Saint Lucia to kick off their royal tour.

The Wessexes met with Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, at the Prime Minister's Residence in Castries, Saint Lucia.

The Wessexes kicked off day two by touching down Argyle International Airport in Argyle, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. Sophie fully embraced tropical style with her floral maxi dress and summer wedges.

Edward presented trophies to the winners of 100m races and a 70m sprint in honor of the Platinum Jubilee at the Sir Vincent Beach National Stadium.

They toured the Botanical Gardens in Kingstown, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Edward sported a hat.

Sophie was also spotted wearing the Maya Torque bangle by British jewelry brand Halcyon days. Kate Middleton has previously worn the same bracelet.

The royal couple planted a tree at the Botanical Gardens to mark Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.

Sophie held a parrot! As Victoria Murphy wrote in Town & Country in 2020, "Sophies low-key approach to duties pre-dates her willingness to hop on video calls; she is known to surprise her hosts by driving herself to and from engagements, waving goodbye from behind the wheel of her own car."

More: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Is the Royal Family's Secret Weapon

The Countess of Wessex was all smiles as the bird perched on her hand. Animals always make for great photo opportunities on royal tours.

Edward held the parrot, too. The parrot is Saint Vincent's national bird, the Amazona guildingii, also known as the "Saint Vincent amazon" or the "Saint Vincent parrot."

They were glad to meet a Duke Of Edinburgh Gold award recipient at Government House.

The two began their day with a visit to Morne Fortune. Per the Saint Lucia National Trust, "Morne Fortun means 'Hill of Good luck' which is far from the truth, since this area was on many occasions the bloody battleground between the French and the English. It was later renamed Fort Charlotte 1794 by the father of Queen Victoria of Great Britain after a battle victory."

Sophie wore a polka dot dress, and repeated her jewelry from day two of the royal tour.

Their last appearance of day three was a Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Saint Lucia's capital city.

Prince Edward and Sophie touched down in St John's, Antigua & Barbuda, on the fourth day of their royal tour.

The couple met with Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, at his office.

There, Browne told the Wessexes his country plans to "one day become a republic." He also urged the couple to use their diplomatic influence to advocate for reparations for Antigua & Barbuda.

More: The Backlash to Prince Edward and Sophie's Caribbean Royal Tour Grows

Sophie played the drums, in a meeting with local craftspeople, creatives and community groups in the garden at Government House.

In a visit to the National Sailing Academy in St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda, Prince Edward's hat returned.

Sophie seemed genuinely delighted to be meeting local children that participate in The Sail-Ability program. The Sail-Ability program offers children with disabilities the opportunity to get involved with activities on the water.

On their fifth day, the Wessexes attended a Duke of Edinburgh Awards ceremony at the Prime Minister's residence in Saint Lucia. The Awards were founded by Prince Philip in 1956 to recognize adolescents and young adults for completing a series of self-improvement exercises.

Another shot of the royal couple. Sophie stuck to her tour wardrobe of florals and wedge sandals.

Prince Edward and Sophie depart by boat from Ganters Bay Jetty in Castries, Saint Lucia.

Upon arrival in Soufriere, Saint Lucia, they posed with Saint Lucian politician Emma Hippolyte (center, behind Sophie) and her family, along with a ginormous floral bouquet.

Sophie looked at ease with the crowd of well-wishers.

Andrew, too, smiled at the crowd. (Sans his hat!)

The royals seemed to be in deep discussion over mixing cocoa during a visit to Fond Doux Cocoa Plantation.

Prince Edward carried a cocoa.

The royal couple then visited the Sulphur Springs in Soufriere, Saint Lucia, to hear about the history and evolution of the volcano and the establishment of the surrounding caldera.

Sophie was extremely hands-on.

The Wessexes took in the view.

The Earl of Wessex left Soufriere on a boat.

A romantic shot as the two travel by boat on day six of their Platinum Jubilee Royal Tour.

The royals continued on the Soufriere Mini Stadium in Saint Lucia, where they attended a performance celebrating St Lucia's young people. Sophie stayed in her trusty white wedges.

In the evening, they attended an event at Government House in Morne Fortune in Saint Lucia. Here, the Countess of Wessex spoke with Anysia Charles, the wife of Governor General of Saint Lucia.

On their last day in the Caribbean, Sophie and Edward met staff and students from a number of Saint Lucian schools.

They listened to students.

Sophie looked regal in a long white dress and gold wedges.

Sophie left a message on a sign of material dedicated to biodiversity at the Pigeon Island National Landmark, writing, "love worms and save our insects!"

The Countess also planted a tree.

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Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex's 2022 Caribbean Royal Tour in Photos - Town & Country

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