‘A different vibe to the last time we saw Jamaica’s PM with members of the Royal Family’: Omid Scobie’s pointed remark as Harry and Meghan pose with Andrew Holness who told William and Kate they’ll never reign over his nation

Sussex ‘cheerleader’ Omid Scobie appeared to make a pointed remark about the Royal Family after Harry and Meghan posed for photos with Jamaica’s staunch anti-royal Prime Minister.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a glitzy premiere for the new Bob Marley movie One Love last night in Jamaica, where they were greeted by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

The couple were branded ‘insensitive’ for posing with the ruler, who has vowed to turn Jamaica into a republic, while Harry’s father King Charles prepares to undergo prostate treatment.

Two years earlier, Holness warned Prince William and Kate that Jamaica was ‘moving on’ from Britain and intended to cut ties with the country during the Waleses’ visit to the Caribbean island.

In an apparent dig on Twitter/X, Scobie – who resurrected a royal race row with his new book Endgame – said: ‘A different vibe to the last time we saw PM Andrew Holness with members of the Royal Family…’.

Sussex cheerleader Omid Scobie pointed out that Harry and Meghan’s smiles with Jamaica’s Prime Minister were ‘a different vibe to the last time we saw PM Andrew Holness with members of the Royal Family ‘ – referring to when he spoke to Prince William and Kate in March 2022

Prince Harry and Meghan with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met Prime Minister Andrew Holness at his office in Kingston, Jamaica, on day five of their tour of the Caribbean on behalf of the Queen in 2022

The surprise appearance at the showbiz bash raised eyebrows after the double royal health scare back in the UK, as Harry’s sister-in-law Kate Middleton recovers in hospital after abdominal surgery nearly 5,000 miles away in London while his father the King was preparing for a prostate procedure. 

The couple were snapped mingling with star guests, enjoying a moment of PDA in front of others and also cosying up to Marlene Malahoo Forte, the minister for legal and constitutional affairs, who said last year that Jamaica could soon ‘sever ties’ with the monarchy, and the nation’s future should be ‘in Jamaican hands’. 

Ms Forte later tweeted a photo of them, prompting an X user to say: ‘Even more hilarious: the person with them here is the minister in charge of changing the constitution and making us a republic.’ Ms Forte replied, saying: ‘This is #OneLove!’

With other observers still waiting for a statement from the Sussexes about Charles and Kate being in hospital, royal commentator Phil Dampier told MailOnline: ‘It seems Harry and Meghan will turn up at the opening of an envelope these days.

‘Under normal circumstances there would be nothing wrong with them going to a film premiere. But at a time when his father is going under the knife and Jamaica is making noises about ditching the monarchy, this is rather insensitive. 

‘The royals have of course always said it’s up to individual countries to decide whether to become republics. But I always thought it was very sad that Barbados got rid of the Queen near the end of her life without a referendum.

‘Jamaica will have a referendum but it’s almost certain they will go their own way eventually.’ 

During William and Kate’s visit to Jamaica, footage showed Mr Holness told the royal couple that whilst Jamaicans were ‘very very happy’ to welcome them, ‘there are issues here which are as you would know unresolved.’ 

He added that his nation is ‘moving on’ and has ‘true ambitions’ to become an ‘independent, developed, prosperous country’. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the red carpet premiere for the Bob Marley film last night

The Duke and Duchess with Paramount president Brian Robbins and his wife Tracy James

The Sussexes pose at the event last night with Marlene Malahoo Forte, Jamaica’s minister for legal and constitutional affairs, who said last year that Jamaica could soon ‘sever ties’ with the monarchy, because it was time for the nation’s future to be ‘in Jamaican hands’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the red carpet premiere for the Bob Marley film last night

Prince Harry and Meghan with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet

Prince William and Jamaica’s premier Andrew Holness are pictured during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence in Jamaica, Kingston in 2022 

Kate wore a £1,945 Alexander McQueen trouser suit as she and her husband Prince William posed with Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet at Vale Royal, their official residence in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital in 2022 

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness presents the Duke of Cambridge with a bottle of Appleton Estate Ruby during a meeting at his office in Kingston, Jamaica

Speaking on last night’s red carpet apperance from the Sussexs, Mr Dampier added that Harry has ‘happy memories’ of Jamaica, including when he famously ‘won’ a run against Usain Bolt during a visit in 2012. 

However, he continued: ‘Clearly the couple felt at home. But it’s sending out a message that they support that country when they haven’t found the time to make a public show of support for the King and the Princess of Wales.

‘They may have done so in private, but they are certainly not going out of their way to say they want a reconciliation and this appearance emphasises yet again the different world they now live in.’

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams added: ‘Harry and Meghan’s appearance in Kingston at the premiere of the Bob Marley: One Love film was a surprise.

They are well aware that the Caribbean tour William and Catherine went on which included Jamaica in March 2022 was considered highly problematic.’

Harry had travelled to Jamaica in 2012 during his Diamond Jubilee tour of the Caribbean, and he was seen dancing with a large crowd to Marley’s hit One Love. He also met the late musician’s widow, Rita Marley. 

In 2017, before their November engagement, Harry and Meghan attended the wedding of the Duke’s friend Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip to Lara Hughes-Young. 

Meghan married her first husband Trevor Engelson on a private beach in Jamaica in 2011.

Bob Marley died of cancer in 1981, aged 36.