The celebration of Saint Lucia’s 40th anniversary of Independence will be heightened with an official visit by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Their Royal Highnesses will visit the island on March 17, where the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be guests of honour at an event to mark the country's 40th anniversary of Independence.

Their Royal Highnesses will be welcomed by Governor General of Saint Lucia, His Excellency Sir Emmanuel Neville Cenac, and Prime Minister Hon. Allen Michael Chastanet. The Prince of Wales will later attend a reception for guests.

This is the second time the Prince of Wales will be celebrating Saint Lucia’s Independence with nationals. The Prince of Wales visited in 1989 to commemorate Saint Lucia’s 10th anniversary. The Duchess of Cornwall is also marking her second visit to the Commonwealth nation. In March 2008, their Highnesses were greeted by thousands of Saint Lucians who lined the streets in the town of Soufriere, on the island’s west coast. The royal visit to Saint Lucia forms part of a Caribbean tour in celebration of the Monarchy's relationship with the Commonwealth realms.

Their Royal Highnesses will visit six countries and one overseas territory, undertaking over fifty engagements across ten islands. The tour begins in Saint Lucia followed by visits to Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada. Furthermore, at the request of the British government, Their Royal Highnesses will also visit Cuba to highlight the growing bilateral relationship with the UK and showcase some of the cultural links between the two countries.

This will be the first official visit by a member of The Royal Family to Cuba. Their Royal Highnesses will also visit the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands to celebrate its place within the British family.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be in the Caribbean from March 17 – 29.