Harry And Meghan Attend Bob Marley Film Premiere In Jamaica

Harry and Meghan have been spotted on the red carpet in Jamaica, attending the premiere of a film celebrating the life of Bob Marley.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were photographed with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Kingston, who is accelerating plans to make the Caribbean nation a republic.

Mr Holness previously told William and Kate during their 2022 tour to the Caribbean that Jamaica was "moving on" and intended to "fulfil our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country".

The couple were also pictured with Jamaica's minister of legal and constitutional affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, at the One Love premiere.

She told Sky News last May, prior to the King's coronation, that the country was looking to "write a new constitution... which [would] sever ties with the monarch as our head of state".

Ms Malahoo Forte had said a referendum to render Jamaica a republic could be held "as early as" this year, meaning it could soon become independent of the British monarchy and have its own president.

The Sussexes' appearance comes as the King prepares to undergo hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate, and the Princess of Wales remains in hospital after abdominal surgery.

Harry previously travelled to Jamaica in 2012 during a Diamond Jubilee tour in honour of his grandmother, the late Queen, marking 60 years of her reign.

The trip was considered a success as Harry competed with 100m champion Usain Bolt on the track and met with then Jamaican prime minister Portia Simpson-Miller, who welcomed him but was keen to remove Elizabeth II as head of state.

Meghan also has ties with Jamaica, having previously written she had visited its slums with her mother when she was 10 to learn about the "harsh realities" of life.

She had also married her first husband, film producer Trevor Engelson, on a Jamaican beach in 2011 before the couple divorced soon after.

Posting about the film premiere on social media, Mr Holness said it signified a "momentous occasion for our nation and the global community".

He added:

"Bob Marley's ability to connect people through his music, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries, has made him a symbol of unity and resilience.

"As we celebrate the premiere of this film, let us reflect on the enduring impact of Bob Marley's work, recognising the importance of his contribution to global conversations on peace, love, and social change."

The biopic will be released in February and stars British actors Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, and Lashana Lynch as his wife, Rita.

(c) Sky News 2024: Harry and Meghan attend Bob Marley film premiere in Jamaica