Kate Middleton, William arrive in The Bahamas for the third leg of Caribbean tour

Prince William and his wife Kate arrived in The Bahamas on Thursday for the third leg of a Caribbean tour that has been marked by protests over the British Empire's legacy and signs of waning influence of the monarchical system.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge faced a protest by Belize villagers and a rally in Jamaica for slavery reparations as well as unusually direct comments by Jamaica's prime minister about the country wanting to be "independent."

Their tour comes after Barbados removed the queen as head of state last year, a move other Commonwealth countries may follow and one that Jamaica has begun to study - potentially fueling a decline of British cultural influence in its former colonies.

William and Kate arrived at the Lynden Pindling International Airport and were greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and Attorney General Ryan Pinder.

During the visit, they are scheduled to attend an assembly at a primary school, compete in a sailing regatta and participate in a cultural event featuring typical Bahamian food and music.

A protest is planned for Friday by Rastafarian groups to demand reparation payments by Great Britain and an apology for slavery.

The Bahamas National Reparations Committee, an independent panel created by the government to study the issue, made similar calls in a letter.

"They and their family of Royals and their Government must acknowledge that their diverse economy was built on the backs of our ancestors," read a letter published on Tuesday. "They must pay."  (Reuters)