The anti-royalist PM who plans to turn Jamaica into a republic: How Andrew Holness wants to separate from Commonwealth and warned William and Kate that they WON’T be King and Queen of his island nation because it’s ‘moving on’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been branded ‘insensitive’ today after posing with Jamaica’s 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. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were pictured with the politician on the red carpet after they flew from California to Kingston for the premiere of the new Bob Marley film One Love last night. 

The cozy meet and greet comes 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. 

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. 

Mr Holness’ grand vision is for a new Constitution of Jamaica to be enacted, which would make the country a republic without a monarchy. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been branded ‘insensitive’ today after posing with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Mr Holness has previously said he intends to ditch the monarchy 

He also warned Prince William and Kate Middleton they’d never rule the island

Last year, the country admitted they had wanted to ditch the monarchy after the Queen died in 2022. 

Mr Holness said he thought there has always been a ‘strong love and respect’ for the late Queen and the ‘appropriate time to [separate] would have been on a transition’.

‘The truth is the recent polls have shown there is a tendency towards Jamaica becoming a republic. So over time the position has evolved,’ he told the Express.

The change in the country’s constitution was hoped to have been completed by June this year but the government faced delays amid discussions over what position would represent the new head of state.

‘We would have wanted to be able to do this within a year but the process is not a linear one. So we are on the journey of public education.’

He explained then a legislation must be passed in Parliament before a referendum is sat.

It is not yet confirmed when Jamaica will become a republic.

2022 v 2024: Prince William and Kate held tense talks with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness during a visit to Kingston in March 2022 (left), while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were all smiles with him in the same city last night at the red carpet film premiere (right)

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 where Bob Marley used to live

Mr Holness said he thought there has always been a ‘strong love and respect’ for the late Queen and the ‘appropriate time to [separate] would have been on a transition’ (Pictured with King Charles in 2022)

Mr Holness has also been vocal in his praise for the Prince and Princess of Wales 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. 

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. 

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

The couple have two sons together in their marriage Adam and Matthew

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.’