During Prince William and Princess Catherine’s visit to Jamaica, one conversation stood out for its nuance, candor, and hope. The royal couple met with Chris Stokes — the Jamaican bobsleigh legend whose unlikely Olympic journey inspired the 1993 hit film Cool Runnings — and the sporting icon offered a thoughtful reflection on the complicated relationship between Britain and its former colonies.
Stokes, now president of the Jamaican Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, met the Prince and Princess in Trench Town, the same Kingston neighborhood where reggae legend Bob Marley once lived. For a royal tour marked by both warmth and tension, the meeting served as a reminder of how sport, culture, and history often intertwine to tell a deeper story.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Stokes struck a balanced tone about the monarchy’s enduring symbolism. “It’s important not to lose sight of what the monarchy means to the British people — that is number one,” he said. “People talk about reparations and so on, which are worth discussing, but that should not take away from what you do in this moment we find ourselves in and what sort of future we seek to create.”
His words carried particular resonance as Jamaica continues its national conversation about becoming a republic and removing the British monarch as head of state — a debate that gained traction in recent years. Stokes acknowledged that shift while emphasizing the importance of respect. “It’s unreasonable to think forever that the Queen or King of the moment will be head of state to far-flung countries,” he said. “But having respect for the institution is important regardless of the role that it has here.”
Of William and Catherine themselves, Stokes was generous. “They are quite composed and very gracious and represented their country very well,” he noted. “You could see it wasn’t their first rodeo.” For the 58-year-old Olympian, the couple’s demeanor — poised yet approachable — reflected what he described as “the humility and graciousness” essential to a modern monarchy. “They knew a little bit more about us than we knew about them,” he added. “They treated the entire situation with a great deal of respect, which is important regardless of situation.”
That mutual respect, Stokes suggested, mirrors Jamaica’s own spirit. “This is Jamaica, and we let strangers into our houses and make them feel at home,” he said. “There is a tight bond between Britain and Jamaica that goes back hundreds of years. There has been colonialization, but also what one of our poets calls ‘colonialism in reverse.’” It was a reference to the complex history of migration, identity, and cultural exchange — the way Jamaicans and their descendants have enriched Britain even as they reckon with the wounds of empire. “Three of the four athletes of our bobsled team are from the U.K. with Jamaican heritage,” he pointed out. “Children or refugees have been winning medals for Holland. It’s a reminder that our stories are shared, whether we acknowledge it or not.”
Still, Stokes did not shy away from the darker chapters of that shared past. “Things that happened cannot be undone,” he said. “Great inhumanities that were done to us by the British during the slave trade. And many inhuman things that we have done to each other within our country. Frankly, there are plenty of sins and blame to go round.” His message, however, was one of reconciliation, not resentment. “As any family, we must heal and go forward and as individuals improve ourselves,” he continued. “We have disagreements in families and between friends, but what is not Jamaican is not being gracious or treating our guests with respect.”
That grace — the ability to confront painful history while still choosing civility and dialogue — is what Stokes believes can guide the next chapter of British-Caribbean relations. “We need to embrace a new tomorrow even though we don’t know what that shape is,” he said. “But that means living together with respect.”
In the end, his reflections carried the same message that inspired his Olympic journey decades ago: perseverance, humility, and hope. “I just believe it is an important step to start from where you are today,” Stokes said quietly. “The relevant question is what you do tomorrow.”
For a royal tour that stirred both admiration and controversy, Chris Stokes’ words offered a rare moment of clarity — a reminder that healing between nations, like love between people, begins not with blame, but with the shared courage to imagine a better future.
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