Harry & Meghan's Trip To Jamaica Sends Bold Message To Royal Family

Everyone was all smiles, laughing and joking before the premiere of the movie "Bob Marley: One Love" in Jamaica. On the red carpet, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stopped to chat and pose with Prime Minister Andrew Holness; his wife Juliet Holness, who also serves as a member of the Jamaican Parliament; and Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange. 

The scene was quite different from when Prince William and Kate Middleton met with Holness during their messy royal tour of the Caribbean country, which is a member of the British Commonwealth — for now, at least. The royal couple's trip was fraught with awkward moments, protests, and the prime minister confirming directly to Prince William his intention to remove the British monarchy as the country's head of state, which would remove Jamaica from the Commonwealth. A referendum later this year will determine whether Jamaica will break away from the royal family and become a republic. 

The contrast between the two visits was noticeable and noted, with Prince Harry and Meghan seeming to show off their split from the royals, and offering support to the Jamaican government for their own planned separation. As fellow commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail, "They have clearly chosen this difficult time to remind the Royal Family of what they have lost."