‘I didn’t expect to be drawn into UK internal issues!’: Anti-monarchy Jamaican PM Andrew Holness breaks silence on Harry and Meghan after their visit to the Caribbean country sparked royal row

The anti-monarchy Jamaican Prime Minister who sparked controversy when he posed with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has spoken out for the first time.

When King Charles III was awaiting a procedure on an enlarged prostate, Harry and Meghan attended the premiere of Bob Marley biopic One Love in Jamaica.

There they spoke with Prime Minister Andrew Holness who has previously said he intends to ditch the monarchy and warned Prince William and Kate they’d never rule the island.

Mr Holness, 51, has been a long standing critic of Jamaica’s relationship with the Commonwealth and the British monarchy and formally announced plans for the country to become an independent republic in 2022.

Following the ensuing controversy, Mr Holness told Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner he didn’t expect to me ‘drawn into some internal issues in the United Kingdom’.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the world premiere of Bob Marley: One Love on January 23

The Jamaican Prime Minister parked controversy when he posed with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has spoken out for the first time

Andrew Holness has previously said he intends to ditch the monarchy 

Mr Holness pictured with King Charles in 2022

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were pictured with the politician on the red carpet while Kate Middleton recovered in hospital after abdominal surgery nearly 5,000 miles away in London and his father the King was preparing for a prostate procedure.

But they were slammed for being ‘insensitive’ and brushing shoulders with the anti-monarchist. 

Comparisons were also drawn to when the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the country in March 2022. 

Omid Scobie, author of Endgame, wrote on X: ‘A different vibe to the last time we saw PM Andrew Holness with members of the Royal Family…’

Mr Holness told The Gleaner: ‘I was pleased, and I was also very happy to see royals coming to participate in this major event.

‘Unsuspecting—little did I know—that I’d be drawn into some internal issues in the United Kingdom. But so it is, more publicity for Jamaica.’

Mr Holness has been vocal in his praise for the Prince William and Kate Middleton – but said they will never rule the nation.

The couple visited Jamaica and William was both praised and criticised for speaking out against Britain’s historic role in the slave trade.

The PM warned Prince William and Kate Middleton they’d never rule the island

Mr Holness praised Prince William and Princess Kate, who he said were ‘always welcome’ to visit the Caribbean island. Pictured during a visit to Trench Town Culture Yard Museum

But despite his condemnation of the ‘abhorrent’ trade in humans, abolished after 200 years by Britain in 1807, some Jamaicans do not believe he went far enough.

The heir to the throne told a dinner in Kingston: ‘I strongly agree with my father, The Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history. I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened. ‘

In an exchange that was caught on camera, 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’.

His comments followed his statement that there was ‘no question’ his country would become a republic.

Mr Holness campaigned on the promise of making Jamaica a republic ahead of his 2016 PM win and 2020 re-election.

In the past, he has suggested African and Caribbean nations should unite to ‘demand reparations from colonial powers for the damage caused to our people’.

He became the country’s youngest leader to date and vowed to turn Jamaica from a constitutional monarchy into a Republic during his 2020 election campaign.

He said his government would introduce a bill to replace the Queen with ‘a non-executive president as head of state.’

At the time, a minister close to him hinted a vote and then separation from the British throne could be completed by the end of 2024.

When he’s not calling for Jamaican republic, Mr Holness is a happily married man with his wife Juliet Holness working as an accountant.

The couple have been married over 20 years and have two sons, Adam and Matthew.

The Prime Minister claims he ‘enjoys a game of chess, jogging, cycling and a round of table tennis.’