But while officialdom betrayed no hint of controversy - as we've shown you, there was a whole lot of it on the ground. It started on Friday in Indian Creek Village - where there was a protest against the royals landing on their village football field without consultation or consent. The plan was to visit a cacao farm in that village, but that possible controversy scared off the Royals - who had to make a quick detour to another non-controversial farm in Maye Centre village.
But the protest is part of a deeper struggle with the state for respect of Mayan communal lands - and it is a subject that the Prime Minister has only made worse by alleging, falsely, that the Mayas won't be happy until government gives them control of the entire Toledo District.
That inflamed public opinion and perhaps that is why the Prime Minister deflected the controversy today:
Daniel Ortiz
"I have to ask you specifically about the protest from Indian Creek. Do you have any reactions on it though?"
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"That's something the Foreign Minister will be dealing with."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"You are talking about one protest. What about the other protest?"
Daniel Ortiz
"I would have asked about the other one as well."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"There are two sides. Some people who are concerned about the Flora and Fauna issue and those who also believe that the Duke and Duchess should have been welcome to their village. For my perspective I'll say the following: We explained to the alcalde and to the chairman of the village council that the palace imposed a blackout in terms of providing information as to where they would visit. That was not to be disclosed until a week before they arrive and therefore up until then we were precluded from having any discussion with them about it. It was done at that stage and they registered their objections. We took onboard their objections and we respected that. We didn't engage in whether they were right or wrong and we had an alternative plan and we implemented that alternative plan."
"Many people say it was a missed opportunity to explain to the Duke exactly what it is that the people of Indian Creek believe with respect to Flora and Fauna International. Thats a missed opportunity. It created some negative press. That was not for the benefit of Belize, but ultimately, we have to respect the villagers. Now, it appears that was not the majority view. At this stage its water under the bridge."
Daniel Ortiz
"We have Belizeans who disagree with the fact that it appears that our country rolled out the red carpet to the monarchy when the Queen and her ancestors were instrumental in the colonization and the siphoning of resources before Belize got its independence."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"The position is very simple. 1981 we became independent and at that time we chose to make the Queen our head of state. She is still our head of state and until that changes, she is the queen of Belize. The welcome that was given to them is absolutely no different from the welcome that was given to the Presidents from Central America, the prime ministers of CARICOM who visited. We have a pending visit by the President of Mexico, the welcome and the red carpet will be absolutely the same. They came here on behalf of the queen of Belize and until Belizeans decide that we want to change, we have to accept that is the type of treatment that will be given to them."
