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Camilla’s shock confession about food in WHICH country?

Historic trip


The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall could meet some of Cuba’s most celebrated music stars when they make an historic visit to the country.

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Charles and Camilla’s official four-day trip to the communist state in March, part of a Caribbean tour, will be a first by members of the monarchy.

At a Havana recording studio, the prince and his wife may meet members of the Buena Vista Social Club, although details are yet to be finalised.

The group became worldwide celebrities when their 1997 album became a surprise global hit and Grammy award winner.

Other highlights of the Cuban trip will see the couple meet Havana owners of the famous vintage cars still running in the capital, although these will be British classics.

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There are no plans for the royal couple to meet Raul Castro, the brother of Cuba’s former Communist leader Fidel Castro who died in 2016, but they will be guests of honour at an official dinner hosted by the country’s president Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Camilla and Charles
(Credit: PA)

Scott Furssedonn-Wood, the royal couple’s deputy private secretary, said they were visiting the country at the request of the British Government.

He added: “The prince and the duchess’ visit will highlight cultural and academic connections, links between the people of the UK and Cuba, and explore key themes, such as the arts, youth entrepreneurship, heritage restoration and sustainable agriculture.”

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Charles met Cuba’s president in November last year at his London home, Clarence House, when the foreign leader visited the UK with a delegation of senior ministers.

The couple’s 13-day tour of the Caribbean will begin on March 17 and see the couple travel to St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and the Cayman Islands, with the Cuban leg beginning on March 24.

Camilla on recent visit to Supreme Court
(Credit: PA)

Camilla confirmed she would be travelling to Cuba with her husband when they visited the Supreme Court earlier in February, but confessed she “wasn’t so sure” about the food.

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Mr Furssedonn-Wood said: “Both their royal highnesses are looking forward to all sorts of things in Cuba – the music, the dance, and food is certainly one of those things, I’m sure they’re looking forward to sampling the local produce.”

Cuba’s Communist regime survived attempts to topple Fidel Castro through sanctions and this year it will celebrate 60 years since the overthrow of dictator Fulgencio Batista that ushered in the one-party state.

Charles and Camilla will begin their visit to Cuba by laying a wreath at the memorial to Cuba’s national hero, the essayist and poet Jose Marti.

The following day they will make a joint visit to a community and arts centre and later Charles will meet some of Cuba’s young entrepreneurs in Havana.

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The Cuban band Buena Vista Social Club
(Credit: PA)
 
 
During the tour the prince will visit one of Cuba’s leading dance studios and travel out of Havana to learn more about renewable energy and organic farming in Cuba.
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A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “The visit is happening because there was an invitation to the Prince of Wales when the president visited the UK back in November. The British Government requested that their royal highnesses accept the invitation.
 
“This is part of our long-standing approach towards Cuba of engagement and open and frank dialogue over the issues that divide us like human rights, but also engagement towards progress on the matters that we’re interested in.”
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He added that Philip Hammond, when Foreign Secretary, had visited Cuba in 2016 and there had been regular ministerial trips to Cuba and high-level engagement with Cubans for some considerable time.

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