01 February 2024 , 18:07
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Andrew Holness has said he was "unsuspecting" that he would be thrown into the centre of a public outcry after meeting with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen chatting with the Jamaican Prime Minister and posed for photos with him and his wife Juliet Holness at the premiere for the new film Bob Marley: One Love in Kingston, Jamaica. Meghan and Harry were criticised for the cosy appearance after Andrew's savage swipe against the British monarchy.
The Prime Minister previously announced his country would be "moving on" from the Royal Family during an awkward visit with the Prince and Princess of Wales. Now, he's said the outcry has given Jamaica a lot of good publicity.
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Andrew Holness has spoken out about the meeting (Getty Images)Speaking to Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner, he 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."
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When Prince William and Princess Kate visited Jamaica in 2022, Prime Minister Holness was very critical of the British monarch's role as head of state of Jamaica. In a televised statement, he told the Wales': "There are issues here which are, as you would know, unresolved, but your presence gives an opportunity for those issues to be placed in context, put front and centre and to be addressed in as best [a way] as we can.
"But Jamaica is a country that is very proud of our history, very proud of what we have achieved. And we're moving on and we intend to attain in short order our development goals and fulfil our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country.". Jamaica's process to cut ties with the monarchy is said to be under way."
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spoke with him at the film premiere (Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)As well as meeting with Andrew, Harry and Meghan were seen chatting to CEO of Paramount Pictures Brian Robbins. A friend of the couple has revealed Brian was the one who invited them to the glitzy event.
A source said they have "a personal friendship with the Robbins family, who invited them". Speaking to the Daily Mail, the source said Meghan and Harry "have long been fans of Bob Marley's music and message". They also said the couple were "delighted to attend" the film screening.
Bob Marley: One Love "celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity". The movie stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley.