Prince Harry was forced into saluting Fidel Castro.
The 32-year-old royal, awkwardly and out of respect, marked a minute’s silence in memory of the late dictator – who died at the age of 90 – at a private reception held by the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grandaines, Ralph Gonsalves on Saturday (26.11.16).
Harry stood in silence as the host of the lavish event, Governor General Sir Frederick Ballantyne, penned a heartfelt tribute to the former Cuban leader.
While he graciously bowed his head for Castro in the Carribean, back home in England, Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke said that it should have been made clear that it was not "fair" that Harry was made to observe the silence for the "murderous" politician, who governed the Republic of Cuba for 47 years as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976.
He said: "Castro was a murderous dictator. He is dead, and good riddance.
"This endless stream of people excusing him, especially Labour MPs like Jeremy Corbyn, is ridiculous.
"It is very unfair to put pressure on members of the royal family to take part in this kind of tribute."
And fellow Conservative, Michael Fabricant added to the Daily Mail newspaper: "I am no fan of Fidel Castro, who was more of a tyrant than an enlightened leader. But I am a fan of Prince Harry. It must have been an awkward moment for him but hey, what else could he do?"
Fidel’s brother Raul Castro announced the news of the dictator’s death.
In a statement, he said: "I say to the people of Cuba, with profound pain I come here to inform our people, our friends of America and the world, that today, 25 November, 2016, at 10:29 pm, died the chief commander of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz."
Prince Harry forced to salute Fidel Castro
