What was meant to be a glamorous night celebrating Bob Marley’s legacy turned into a political headache for Jamaica’s prime minister.
Andrew Holness reportedly found himself caught in the middle of royal family tensions after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the Kingston premiere of One Love last year.
The couple’s presence, while exciting for many, allegedly left Holness scrambling to explain himself to King Charles, with fears it might be seen as a political message rather than a simple red-carpet moment.
An Unexpected Royal Encounter
According to Theresa Roberts, Jamaica’s ambassador for culture to the UK, Holness had no clue Harry and Meghan were even going to be there. The pair were actually invited by Paramount Pictures CEO Brian Robbins, not the prime minister himself.
But photos told a different story. Images of Holness smiling alongside the Sussexes quickly spread, fueling accusations that he was “cosying up” to the royals who had stepped away from official duties.
Clearing the Air with Buckingham Palace
The backlash was so strong that Roberts claims Holness felt he had no choice but to pick up the phone to Buckingham Palace.
His goal? To make it crystal clear that the meeting hadn’t been planned and that he had no hidden agenda in standing with the couple.
Whether Holness managed to speak directly with King Charles remains uncertain, but the message from Jamaica was firm: there was no political plotting behind the photos.
Politics, Republic Talk, and Timing
The situation was made even more sensitive given Holness’s past comments about Jamaica’s future as a republic.
Just two years earlier, after Prince William’s visit, Holness had openly spoken about “moving on” from the monarchy.
That history made his public association with Harry and Meghan even more awkward.
Still, Roberts insists Holness respects the King and wants to keep his focus on running the country, not getting entangled in royal family drama.
Pushing Back Against Misconceptions
Roberts also wanted to set the record straight on accusations of racism within the royal institution.
Meghan Markle has spoken publicly about discrimination she faced, but Roberts—who has met King Charles multiple times—strongly dismissed the idea.
“There’s no element of racism,” she said. “It’s the opposite.
These are people who would go out of their way not to offend anyone.”
Silence from the Palace
Despite the stir caused by the premiere, Buckingham Palace has stayed quiet on the matter.
For Holness, the episode was a reminder of how quickly royal politics can overshadow his domestic priorities—even when he didn’t invite the royal couple in the first place.