Prince Charles and his wife Camilla began their first full day in Cuba Monday with a visit to Old Havana, touring churches, shops and cafes in the narrow cobblestoned streets of the historic center before other events around the capital city.
The heir to the British throne arrived in Cuba Sunday with an agenda including visits to historic sites, a solar park, organic farm, bio-medical research center, a meeting with entrepreneurs, a cultural gala and a dinner with President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
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Prince Charles and his wife Camilla began their first full day in Cuba Monday with a visit to Old Havana, touring churches, shops and cafes in the narrow cobblestoned streets of the historic center before other events around the capital city.
The Trump Administration has found European and Latin American support for its Venezuela policy but less backing on Cuba, whose government has already withstood a 60-year U.S. embargo without showing any signs of losing its grip on power.
"It's the first time in real life that we receive a real prince at the Cafe Bohemia, although at the Cafe Bohemia all customers are princes," manager Annalisa Gallina said. "It has been a very big emotion, with several days of preparations, from learning how to greet him to learning what he wants to drink or what tea he prefers."
The Cuban choreographer spent most of his career in the United Kingdom. Acosta, who retired from the Royal Ballet in 2015, has been appointed to head the Royal Ballet of Birmingham, a position he will assume in 2020.
Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, front left, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, take a guided tour led by City Historian Eusebio Leal, center, during their trip to Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, shades herself with an umbrella during a guided tour of Old Havana by City Historian Eusebio Leal, left, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
The agenda does not include visits with political dissidents or other critics of Cuba's single-party system, a decision prompting criticism from Cuban exiles.
Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, second from left, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, with umbrella, reveal a statue of William Shakespeare during a guided tour by City Historian Eusebio Leal, front right, as they tour the historic area of Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
The Trump Administration has found European and Latin American support for its Venezuela policy but less backing on Cuba, whose government has already withstood a 60-year U.S. embargo without showing any signs of losing its grip on power.
The United Kingdom backs Trump in Venezuela but is eager to expand relations with the island nation, and arranged for Prince Charles to extend his Caribbean tour to Cuba to shore up relations between the two nations.
The royals stopped in at Bohemia, a cafe facing the historic center's iconic Plaza Vieja.
Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, top center right, wearing sunglasses, takes a guided tour by City Historian Eusebio Leal, pointing, in the historical center of Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 25, 2019. The bikes in the foreground are rentals, mainly used by tourists. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
"It's the first time in real life that we receive a real prince at the Cafe Bohemia, although at the Cafe Bohemia all customers are princes," manager Annalisa Gallina said. "It has been a very big emotion, with several days of preparations, from learning how to greet him to learning what he wants to drink or what tea he prefers."
Charles and his Camila also visited the studio of famed former Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, 45, whom Charles recently awarded the Order of Commander of the Arts of the British Empire.
After greeting the dancers, the royal couple watched a performance blending classical, modern and traditional Cuban dance.
Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, center, takes a guided tour of the historic area in Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
The Cuban choreographer spent most of his career in the United Kingdom. Acosta, who retired from the Royal Ballet in 2015, has been appointed to head the Royal Ballet of Birmingham, a position he will assume in 2020.
"I am very excited by this visit," Acosta said. "The fact that he wanted to come here to see us, that for me is very special."
Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, holds up his fists as he talks with one of his bodyguards after visiting a gym boxing during his official trip to Cuba, in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 24, 2019. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, front left, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, take a guided tour led by City Historian Eusebio Leal, center, during their trip to Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, shades herself with an umbrella during a guided tour of Old Havana by City Historian Eusebio Leal, left, in Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP PhotoRamon Espinosa)