The British Royal Family has an acrimonious history with the Caribbean community, both in the Caribbean and in the United Kingdom itself.

Prince William is well aware of the difficulties that come from that history, and on the occasion of Windrush Day, June 22, he gave a speech that attempted to address some of those difficulties head on.

The Duke of Cambridge thanked members of the Windrush generation (those who immigrated to the UK between 1948 and 1971). 'They did not have to come. They volunteered to fight for King and country. [As one of those who carry on that great military tradition, we understand how much we owe these people. Today's ceremony would not be complete without remembering their sacrifice."

The duke also recalled a trip he and Kate Middleton took earlier this year to Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. 'Our trip was an opportunity for reflection and we learned a lot,' he said. . not only about the various issues that matter most to the people of the region, but also about how the past weighs on the present."

Importantly, the prince also made direct reference to the issue of still pervasive racism against blacks, including those of Caribbean descent. He said, "Discrimination remains an all too familiar experience for black men and women in Britain in 2022."

The full text of Prince William's Windrush Day 2022 speech can be read below (via Rebecca English on Twitter):

"Today is a day to celebrate and honor the Windrush generation, each of whom has contributed so much to our society have made and continue to make significant contributions to our society. [I am delighted that so many of that generation, and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, are here today. [The Windrush generation, who sailed from the Caribbean to rebuild war-torn Britain, responded as British citizens to the plea for our country to prosper again.

"Many of them were no strangers to these shores; in the decade before 1948, thousands served in the Air Force, either flying, navigating, or as ground personnel keeping the squadrons flying.

"These people did not need to come. They volunteered to fight for their king and their country. [As one of those who carry on that great military tradition, we understand how much we owe these men. Today's ceremony would not be complete without remembering their sacrifice." [The role that the Windrush generation has played in our national life over the past 70 years is immeasurable. [Today, we look around us and see that many of our nation's institutions, from commerce and manufacturing to sports and science to engineering and fashion, were built by this generation. [29] [30] "Here at Waterloo Station, we are reminded of the role that thousands of people from the Windrush generation, from train drivers to conductors to technical staff, played in this country's vital public transportation system. [31] [32] "For decades, my family, whether receiving support from my father on Windrush Day or more recently during my grandmother's platinum jubilee, has brought together people from all communities and backgrounds to acknowledge all that has changed over the past 70 years and look to the future.

"This resonated with Catherine and me as we visited the Caribbean earlier this year. Our trip was an opportunity for reflection and we learned a lot. Not only about the various issues that matter most to the people of this region, but also about how the past weighs on the present.

"Sadly, it was the same for members of the Windrush generation, who fell victim to racism upon their arrival in this country.

"Just a few years ago, tens of thousands of generations were greatly wronged by the Windrush scandal. That rightly resonates not only with many in the Caribbean, but with the entire Caribbean community here in the UK. [It is therefore a celebration of the diversity of our families, communities, and society as a whole, and the tremendous contribution of the Windrush generation. [Diversity is what makes us strong and reflects the modern, outward-looking values that are so important to our country. [Today, as Windrush pioneers Alford and John witness the unveiling of the Basil monument, we are reminded of our shared history and the tremendous contributions of the Windrush generation.