During the first day of their Caribbean tour, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William found their new calling while helping make sweets at the Che’il chocolate farm in Belize.
Dressed in a refreshing Mediterranean blue dress with floral prints by Tory Burch and Stuart Weitzman wedges, Catherine got down to business and grounded chocolate nibs, which is said to be back-breaking work performed by the Belize women from rural communities.
As the mother-of-three pounded away at the nibs with a mortar and pestle created from volcanic rock, she declared: “The smell of the chocolate is amazing.”
Catherine also acknowledged the process is hard work by exclaiming: “You make it look so easy!”
Prince William also enjoyed the process and even joked that he would throw away his royal duties to work alongside the owner Julio Saqui and his family’s chocolate farm.
“Do you take apprentices? Can I come and work for you? It’s kind of a thing,” he asked.
After they completed grinding the nibs, they were taken to see the farm’s chocolate fountains, and they dipped tortilla chips into the liquid.
As if they weren’t already living the dreams of many, they were treated to some hot chocolate made from the organic farm. Catherine hilariously remarked: “I think our children will be very jealous.”
The Duke and Duchess were meant to visit the Maya Mountains, but a royal source confirmed to People Magazine that it was cancelled for “sensitive issues.”
The Q’eqehi Maya people have clashed with the conservation charity Flora and Fauna International, of which William is a patron – and is said to be at the heart of the conflict.
The royal couple rearranged their trip to visit the beachside Village Hopkins in response to the situation.
When they arrived, they were greeted by a 21-gun salute shot from three cannons, which was followed by their first official meeting with Prime Minister Johnny Briceno and his wife Rossana Briceno.