King Charles III met with the High Commissioner of Jamaica amidst discussions on becoming a republic, while the royal family faces scrutiny over military aide expenditure.
King Charles III recently hosted Alexander Williams, the High Commissioner of Jamaica, at Buckingham Palace, marking one of his few public appearances since his cancer diagnosis last month. The audience, a customary practice for new high commissioners and ambassadors, addressed the Jamaican government’s consideration of constitutional reforms to become a republic. This meeting signifies the ongoing diplomatic relations between the UK and Jamaica amidst discussions on the future constitutional status of Jamaica.
In a separate matter, the British royal family has come under scrutiny for the £500,000 spent last year on military aides, known as equerries. These aides, who assist senior royals including the King, Queen, and Prince and Princess of Wales, have been criticized by anti-monarchist group Republic. Republic’s CEO, Graham Smith, called the expenditure a “disgraceful use of highly trained military personnel” and questioned the allocation of defense funds for such purposes. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) justified the expenses, stating that the majority of costs would have been incurred regardless of the equerries’ duties. The issue highlights a debate over the prioritization of military resources in the UK.
