Prince William of the United Kingdom has admitted that the monarchy's days in Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas may be numbered, stating that the future "is for the people to decide."

William and Kate paid visits to the three countries on their Caribbean tour, but by the time they return on their next royal visit, the Queen may have been deposed as head of state and replaced by a domestic figurehead.

Prince William also emphasized in a statement commenting on the tour's conclusion that who the Commonwealth picks as its leader "is not on my mind," but rather its capacity to "create a better future for the people who form it."

He emphasized his and his wife Kate's "commitment to service" and their view of their position as "supporting people, not telling them what to do."

The message could be read as a response to days of criticism the couple has endured during their eight-day tour, ranging from allegations that local Belizeans were not consulted about a royal engagement to requests for Jamaica's royalty to compensate victims of slavery.

Additionally, the couple was accused of being "tone deaf" following photographs of them shaking hands with Kingston crowds behind a wire mesh fence. Images of the royals riding in the back of a Land Rover were criticized for evoking colonial times.

The media coverage of the couple's visit has been divided, with some emphasizing the positive impact of their presence in the Caribbean. In contrast, others have dubbed the fence photograph a "PR disaster."

"I am aware that this tour has brought into sharper focus questions about the past and the future," Prince William stated in his statement. The people will determine their future in Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas.

"However, we have genuinely enjoyed spending time with people in all three countries and gaining a better knowledge of the most critical issues.

"Both Catherine and I have a solid commitment to service. That is not telling people what to do, in our opinion. It's about serving and supporting them in whatever capacity they see appropriate, with the platform we are fortunate to have.

"I am not concerned with who the Commonwealth selects to lead its family in the future. What important to us is the Commonwealth family's ability to build a better future for the people who comprise it, as well as our dedication to serve and assist them to the best of our abilities."

While William is destined to be King of Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas when the time comes, his declaration and a speech he delivered on Friday indicate that the future monarch is aware that the shifting political and cultural landscape may end this.

He signaled Friday evening during a live broadcast in the Bahamas that any choice by the three nations to secede from the British monarchy and become republics would be greeted with "pride and respect" by the UK.

In November, Barbados made the historic decision to succeed Britain's Queen Elizabeth as head of state, electing its first president during a ceremony presided over by the Prince of Wales.

At the tour's conclusion, William's remarks are an admission of forces already at work, as Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness hinted to the couple that his country could be the next to become a republic.

And, a few days after the Cambridges left, a minister from Belize's government addressed his parliament: "Perhaps the time has come for Belize to take the next step toward truly claiming our independence." However, it is an issue for the Belizean people to determine."