As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s controversial tour of the Caribbean draws to a close, William has signalled that the UK would support with “pride and respect” any decision by Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas to break away from the British monarchy. It comes after the couple visited the three countries during a week-long tour to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee and were met with criticism and protests amid calls for slavery reparations and fury over the Windrush scandal. His comments are expected to resonate around the region, where there are five other countries in which the Queen is head of state. Speaking at a reception in the Bahamas capital, Nassau, on Friday, where guests included prime minister, Philip Davis, he acknowledged that the relationship between the three states and the royal family was changing, saying: “Relationships evolve. Friendship endures.” He said: “Next year, I know you are all looking forward to celebrating 50 years of independence – your golden anniversary. “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.” His comments come after Barbados took the landmark step of replacing the Queen as head of state in November and elected the country’s first president. The ceremony was attended by William’s father, the Prince of Wales. The Cambridges’ tour, which was met with protests in Jamaica and Belize and has been criticised for its colonial optics, is due to come to an end on Saturday. William’s remarks could be a sign of acknowledgement that change is already under way after Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, suggested to the couple that his country could become the next republic. Welcoming the Cambridges to Kingston on Wednesday, he said Jamaica was “moving on” and intended to “fulfil our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country”. A few days after they left Belize, the country’s government indicated that it would be consulting nationwide about the continuing decolonisation process through a new body, the People’s Constitutional Commission. Henry Charles Usher, Belize’s minister for constitutional and political reform, reportedly told the country’s parliament on Thursday: “Madame Speaker, the decolonisation process is enveloping the Caribbean region. “Perhaps it is time for Belize to take the next step in truly owning our independence. But it is a matter that the people of Belize must decide on.”