Prince William and Kate head home after addressing royal tour controversy

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are flying home to the UK, marking the end of their eight-day royal tour around the Caribbean.

Prince William and Kate boarded their RAF VIP Voyager jet today, wrapping their tour in The Bahamas.

Kate wore a belted yellow peplum dress by Alessandra Rich and William wore a blue suit for the departure.

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Just hours before they left the island, the Duke released an unprecedented statement addressing some of the underlying controversy surrounding the couple's tour of Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas.

The royal couple received backlash from people dubbing the royal tour as "outdated." They have also faced protests from locals against colonialism and have had to address issues with the royal's historic involvement with slavery.

Prince William touched on the subject of slavery during a visit to Jamaica where he denounced the "abhorrent" practice and expressed his "profound sorrow."

Tensions have been mounting from people across the Caribbean nations — where William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, remains head of state.

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In his statement, William addressed the controversy saying, "I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future. In Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon. But we have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with communities in all three countries, understanding more about the issues that matter most to them."

"Catherine and I are committed to service. For us that's not telling people what to do. It is about serving and supporting them in whatever way they think best, by using the platform we are lucky to have."

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William and Kate embarked on the eight-day tour of the Caribbean in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The royals visited Belize, Jamaica and The Bahamas. The tour is William and Kate's first joint overseas trip since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.