Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sample chocolate during Belize visit

Robert Jobson21 March 2022

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in chocoholic heaven sampling products made in a Belize cocoa farm – but had to work for their sweet treats.

Kate, 39, tried her hand at grinding nibs, broken-up made cocoa beans, backbreaking work traditionally performed by the women in rural communities during their visit to the Che ‘il chocolate farm.

As the future Queen watch her husband pounding away with a mortar and pestle made from volcanic rock she said: “The smell of the chocolate is amazing.”

William, 39, even joked about giving up his day job as a working royal asking Julio Saqui owner of the family run chocolate firm “Do you take apprentices? Can I come and work for you it’s my kind of thing.”

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Caribbean Tour 2022
REUTERS

The couple’s eyes lit up when they saw chocolate fountains – dipping tortilla chips into the brown sticky liquid – and they tried hot chocolate made from the organic farm with Kate confessing: “I think our child will be very jealous.”

The couple also wowed delighted crowds with their dance moves during their visit.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Belize as part of a Platinum Jubilee Royal Tour of the Caribbean

The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Belize, Jamaica And The Bahamas - Day Two
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William gave a little shimmy when they were treated to welcome dance at a village in Belize - known as the country’s happiest village.

But it was Kate in a blue dress, who was first onto the dancefloor, cutting shaped with nine local school children from the Garifuna Cultural Centre.

Wills watched on as Kate stole the show before he began dancing with local organiser Laura Cacho, 57.

They were soon holding hands and gyrating to the music as locals screamed in delight.

The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Belize, Jamaica And The Bahamas - Day Two
Getty Images

She said afterwards: “That was so exciting. A dream come true.

“It was fun he was a good dancer and I told him he got the Garifuna culture in him.

“He did the punta dance better than me.

“He shook his waist to the music. He had beautiful rhythm. It was a pleasure for me.

“Kate was excellent as well and definitely has Garifuna culture in her.

“They were shaking their waists like nobody’s business.”

Kate and William were treated to dancing and food by local Garifuna community in Hopkins on the Caribbean coast.

The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Belize, Jamaica And The Bahamas - Day Two
Getty Images

It was a change if atmosphere the royals who were forced to cancel a trip to a farm after locals protested against their trip.

Kate, wearing a blue floral dress, and William ditched his jacket and tie, to witness nine youngsters aged nine to 15-years-old carry out four elaborate dance routines.

They were also offered plantain coconut broth, Hudutu and a sweet sava porridge called Sahau with Belizian celebrity chef Sean Kuylen.

Hopkins - population of 1,000 descendants of a shipwrecked slave ship - is regularly voted the friendliest village in the whole of Belize.

They also a small group of marine conservation specialists to learn more about Belize’s unique marine environment as it has the world’s second largest reef.

And stepped onto a newly rebuilt pier with Beverly Wade, from office of Belize Prime Minister. They had also been greeted with children waving Belize flags.

Mamma G, also known Joan Gloria, pastor of National Garifuna Council, helped provide the dancing children, and said: “We welcome them both. It is an honour. We welcome everybody.

“We are the happiest village in Belize. Nobody who comes here is sad.

“We are about love, respect and welcoming people with open arms.”

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's tour of the Caribbean, in Hopkins
REUTERS

The couple also planted a Yellow Copperpod tree.

The villagers of Hopkins are descendants of a shipwrecked slave ship who settled on Caribbean island St Vincent.

They were fled persecution in the 18th century to Central America.

UNESCO declared Garifuna language, dance and music in Belize to be a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2001.

Their unique culture of food, song and dance remains in Belize.

Villagers in Indian Creek had forced the royal couple to change a planned visit today after staging a protest, describing the visit as ‘colonialism’ and a ‘slap in the face’.

They had slammed the prince and duchess for wanting to land a helicopter on a football field without permission before visiting a sustainable cocoa farm.]

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