Prince William and Duchess Kate Set to Launch Charm Offensive in the Caribbean

Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, have been given an exciting new mission by his paternal grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

The couple is set to launch a charm offensive in the Caribbean as part of a new royal tour focusing on ecological issues.

The tour is in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and the couple plans to visit Belize, where Queen Elizabeth II is the current Belizean monarch and head of state since the independence of Belize on 21 September 1981.

Belize is a nation on the eastern coast of Central America, with Caribbean sea shorelines to the east and dense jungle to the west.

Offshore, the massive Belize Barrier Reef, dotted with hundreds of low-lying islands called Cays, hosts rich marine life.

Belize's jungle areas are home to Mayan ruins like Caracol, renowned for its towering pyramid.

Last week, representatives for the Duke and Duchess were spotted on the Central American nation's paradise island of Ambergris Cay, in what locals said was an advance party preparing for a royal tour in the spring.

The source on the island said their people were very secretive and kept saying this had to be kept very quiet, but on a small island like Ambergris Cay, it's impossible to keep anything quiet for very long.

They were talking about a four-day visit to Belize in March, as part of a longer trip to this part of the world.

The planned journey comes at a time when many Caribbean states are thinking of removing the Queen as head of state.

The Duke and Duchess' visit is expected to shore up crucial support for the monarchy in the region.

In November, Prince Charles visited Barbados for a ceremony to mark its historic decision to remove the Queen as head of state.

Other Commonwealth countries in the region, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Dominica, already have their own heads of state.

Last year, John Briceno, the Prime Minister of Belize, did not rule out his nation following suit, saying, “We need to find what fits Belize best.”

According to the Daily Mail, a source in Belize said, “When Barbados declared independence, there was a lot of talk in Belize about us going the same way.

But we love the Queen.

We have photographs of her in every government building, and there is a great deal of affection for her as a person, even if some of the younger generation are leaning away from the monarchy.

William and Kate coming to visit us would be a huge triumph.”

The last high-profile royal visit to Belize was made by Prince Harry in 2012 to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

He attended a street party, sampled the local rum, and opened a road renamed in his grandmother's honor.

In addition to their visit to Belize, the Duke of Cambridge will make an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the British government.

The visit will take place on 10 February and will coincide with the United Arab Emirates' 50th anniversary and UK National Day celebration at the Expo 2020 in Dubai.

William will be part of these celebrations, watching as the Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay for this summer's Commonwealth Games parades through Expo 2020 and into each of the Commonwealth Nations pavilions.

William's visit will also highlight two programs hosted by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, United for Wildlife and the Earthshot Prize.

Kensington Palace notes that William, “…attaches particular importance to the natural world, a passion that was shared by the UAE's founding father, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nayan.”

William's visit will include learning about environmental initiatives that focus on protecting the flora and fauna of the United Arab Emirates through the two Royal Foundation programs.

The United Arab Emirates is already involved in the United for Wildlife to help stop the illegal wildlife trade, and William will hear about the partnerships within the country that are playing their part.