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By Jack Royston
Chief Royal Correspondent
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sparked a wave of headlines after meeting the Jamaican prime minister, leaving the politician feeling he had been "drawn into some internal issues in the United Kingdom."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex went to the premiere of Bob Marley biopic One Love, in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 23, where they brushed shoulders with some of the biggest names in the country's political class.
And the warm words they exchanged with Andrew Holness led some British news outlets to accuse them of insensitivity to King Charles III, who was at the time out of action awaiting a procedure on an enlarged prostate.
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Holness has pledged a referendum on whether to remove the king as head of state, and gave Prince William and Kate Middleton an awkward moment in March 2022 when he told them on camera that Jamaica was "moving on" from monarchy.
However, Holness appeared philosophical about the coverage when asked on Wednesday at the launch of the Jamaica Screen Development Initiative.
Quoted by Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner, Holness said: "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."
It comes after royal author Phil Dampier told the Daily Mail: "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."
"Harry has happy memories of Jamaica—we remember him 'winning' a dash against Usain Bolt—and clearly the couple felt at home," he continued.
"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 emphasizes yet again the different world they now live in."
Some also commented on the different reception Prince Harry and Meghan got compared to the Prince and Princess of Wales in March 2022, when their tour was beset by protests and awkward photo ops.
Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom and Endgame, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "A different vibe to the last time we saw PM Andrew Holness with members of the Royal Family..."
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek*, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on* Newsweek*'s* The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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