Prince Charles meets Cuban president in historic moment

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were given the red carpet treatment in Communist Cuba on Monday night at a historic meeting with the President of the socialist state.

The couple arrived at the Palacio de la Revolución - the president’s official building - and walked past a Guard of Honour inside the large conservatory-style reception area bedecked with marble floors and foliage.

Camilla was wearing a cream Anna Valentine trouser suit while Charles was in a suit and tie.

They were then greeted by Cuba’s leader, Miguel Diaz Canel, and his spouse, Lis Cuesta Peraza.

Unusually, Camilla was asked to stand with the delegation while the national anthems of both Cuba and the UK were played before the heir to the throne inspected the troops.

Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Prince Charles attend a welcoming ceremony at the Revolution Palace in Havana - Credit: Reuters
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Prince Charles attend a welcoming ceremony at the Revolution Palace in Havana Credit: Reuters

The two men then sat down for a private bilateral meeting ahead of an official dinner hosted by the President and his spouse.

Diaz Canel was handpicked for leadership by the two previous presidents, Fidel Castro and his brother Raul.

He became Cuba’s leader last year following Raul’s retirement. Raul remains First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, holding ultimate power and authority over state and government.

The Communist leader visited the Prince last November at Clarence House in a meeting which paved the way for this week’s ground-breaking royal tour.

Charles and Camilla have this week become the first British royals to visit post- revolutionary Cuba since 1959.

On Monday night, Anthony Stokes, Britain’s ambassador to Cuba, justified the trip in the face of criticism: “We and the European Union have a very strong policy of engaging with the Cuban government, and we believe that is the right way - not only to talk about the more difficult issues, but also to identify ways we can work together.

“It is a very special moment. Cuba has never seen anything quite like this before. There have been important senior-level visits. President Obama was here in 2016, but a royal visit is something really special.”

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrives ahead of Prince Charles and Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel - Credit: AP
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrives ahead of Prince Charles and Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel Credit: AP

Some had questioned whether it was right for the royals to be visiting Cuba in light of the socialist state's support of Nicolas Maduro's oppressive regime in Venezuela.

The trip comes amid rising tensions between Cuba and the US, with President Donald Trump threatening to impose sanctions on the island in the northern Caribbean.

His national security adviser John Bolton last year branded Havana part of a "troika of tyranny" along with leftist Latin American allies Venezuela and Nicaragua.

On Monday, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted the trip was a "great example of bold & pragmatic diplomacy" on Twitter, saying Britain could use the royal visit to "deliver robust messages where we disagree eg on delivering change for the suffering people of #Venezuela."

On Tuesday, the royal couple will visit a British classic car event and tour Studio 101 where the Buena Vista Social Club recorded their bestselling albums.