Prince William tells Caribbean leaders that the royal family will support their decisions to become republics: 'Relationships evolve. Friendship endures.'

• The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a black-tie event on Friday in Nassau, Bahamas.
• Prince William said the British monarchy would support Caribbean nations that become republics.

The Duke of Cambridge suggested the British monarchy would support Caribbean countries that wanted to break away from the British monarchy.

Prince William, 39, and Kate Middleton, 40, arrived in the Bahamas on Thursday to mark the last leg of their controversial Caribbean tour, The Guardian reported. While attending a black-tie reception on Friday in Nassau, the outlet reported that Prince William addressed the potential for Caribbean countries who are still under the Commonwealth to remove Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and become republics, according to the outlet.

People reported that the event was hosted by Sir Cornelius Alvin Smith, the Governor-General of The Bahamas, who represents The Queen in the Bahamas.

"Next year, I know you are all looking forward to celebrating 50 years of independence — your Golden Anniversary," Prince William said, according to The Guardian. "And with Jamaica celebrating 60 years of independence this year, and Belize celebrating 40 years of independence last year, I want to say this: We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future."

The Guardian reported that Prince William added: "Relationships evolve. Friendship endures."

Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Barbados officially removed the Queen as head of state and became a republic in November 2021. BBC reported that Trinidad and Tobago removed the Queen as head of state in 1976, while Dominica did so in 1978 and Guyana in 1970.

Prince William's comments came after he and Middleton had a rocky start to the tour that began on March 19. That day, the royal couple faced protests from locals in Belize over colonization and land disputes. They later faced a protest in Jamaica on Tuesday from local citizens who opposed the British royal family's ties with colonization and slavery.

"We see no reason to celebrate 70 years of the ascension of your grandmother to the British throne because her leadership, and that of her predecessors, have perpetuated the greatest human rights tragedy in the history of humankind," a letter published by The Advocates Network Jamaica read.

One day later, government sources told Harper's Bazaar that Jamaica began the process to have Queen Elizabeth II removed as the country's head of state. If completed, Jamaica would join other countries like Barbados.

Prince William expressed "sorrow" over the British monarchy's participation in slavery in Jamaica on Wednesday while attending a dinner held by the Governor-General of Jamaica. Prince William added that slavery "forever stains our history." in his speech