Prince William and Kate Middleton marked a very symbolic day for the British Caribbean community on June 22.
The occasion was Windrush Day, which commemorates the arrival to the U.K. of the ship MV Empire Windrush on June 22, 1948, carrying hundreds of Caribbean people who were called upon to join the British workforce. Caribbean people who arrived in Britain from that day until 1971 are known as the "Windrush generation."
Later, in 2018, the Windrush scandal broke out, which saw the British government tell members of the Windrush generation that they were in the U.K. illegally, despite having been residents for decade and having arrived from a Commonwealth country, according to the BBC.
To mark Windrush Day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge first visited a youth program, ELEVATE, in the historically Caribbean London neighborhood of Brixton, where, per Hello!, they met young people who were in the process of honing their photography and filming skills. The duchess, of course, is a keen photographer herself, so she no doubt had plenty to talk about with the program participants.
The Cambridges then attended the unveiling of a monument to Windrush in London's Waterloo Station, a statue of a man, a woman, and a child created by Jamaican artist Basil Watson. Windrush passengers Alford Gardner and John Richards also attended the unveiling.
For the occasion, Middleton wore a white Alexander McQueen blazer which she first wore in Jamaica, according to the Daily Mail. She paired it with tailored white pants from the same brand and a small Mulberry bag.
The Cambridges' recent visit to the Caribbean came with a great deal of controversy, because it was a stark reminder of the British Royal Family's historical role in perpetuating colonialism and slavery. The three nations they visited, Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, are all reportedly considering leaving the Commonwealth following the visit.
