Protests in Jamaica over the visit of Prince William and Catherine

Prince William and Catherine's official visit Tuesday to Kingston, Jamaica, sparked demonstrations demanding that the British monarchy apologize for its role in the slave trade in this former colony.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the Jamaican capital for a three-day stopover, as part of a trip to the Caribbean in recognition of the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.

However, protesters protested with placards outside the British High Commission before the royal couple arrived, demanding that the monarchy pay monetary redress and apologize for its role in the slave trade that brought thousands of Africans to the island under inhumane conditions.

Among the protesters, Clement 'Jawari' Deslandes said it was a slap in the face of his ancestors that “a royal person arrived without worry or remorse in his heart.”

“They have this privilege of the nobility (...) in which they can walk around here and we must lay a red carpet for them. Those days are over,” Deslandes claimed.

“I'm here representing my ancestors, all of them died in slavery and were killed by the oppression of white people,” he said.

The royal visit comes amid growing calls to Jamaica to follow the example of Barbados and become a republic and take away the queen's head of state.

The couple canceled their visit to Belize at the start of their Caribbean tour due to complaints from indigenous communities, according to reports.

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