Having a ball! Charles and Camilla don their finery for a night at the ballet in Havana during historic Royal tour of the Caribbean

  • Prince of Wales drives Duchess of Cornwall in a black MG TD from 1953 to classic car rally in Havana
  • They arrived at event along with members of the British Classic Motorbike Enthusiasts Representative 
  • Royal couple later met members of the Buena Vista Social Club at a famous Havana recording studio
  • Charles and Camilla's visit has already been hailed as a boost to Britain's post-Brexit ambitions

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The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were treated to a Gala Cultural Performance in Havana tonight.

The couple were at the exquisite Gran Teatro Alicia Alonso for the special evening event featuring The Cuban National Ballet, Acosta Danza and Danza Contemporanea.

On arrival, Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed and introduced to key figures from the Ministry of Culture, the Theatre and the dance companies.

Camilla was elegant in a blue Anna Valentine dress and cream courts.

She and her husband then took their seats for the hour-long show.

The Grand Theatre is an iconic building in Cuba, opening its doors in 1838 under the name of Teatro Tacón.

The facade reflects four sculptural groups designed by Giuseppe Moretti in white marble representing allegories of beneficence, education, music and theatre.

A complete restoration was completed in early 2016 and the theatre was renamed El Gran Teatro Alicia Alonso. Alicia Alonso was the founder and La Prima Ballerina Assoluto of Cuba, of a ballet company, which later became the National Ballet of Cuba.

Danza Contemporanea de Cuba (DCC) is the oldest contemporary dance company in Cuba, founded in 1959, and is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attend a gala cultural performance in the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso, in Havana

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attend a gala cultural performance in the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso, in Havana

Camilla was elegant in a blue Anna Valentine dress and cream courts while Prince Charles wore a navy pinstripe suit

Camilla was elegant in a blue Anna Valentine dress and cream courts while Prince Charles wore a navy pinstripe suit

As part of the event the couple met dancers from the Cuban National Ballet, Acosta Danza and Danza Contemporanea

As part of the event the couple met dancers from the Cuban National Ballet, Acosta Danza and Danza Contemporanea

Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed and introduced to key figures from the Ministry of Culture, the Theatre and the dance companies

Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed and introduced to key figures from the Ministry of Culture, the Theatre and the dance companies

The Prince and Duchess of Cornwall were pictured enjoying the performances from a balcony inside the historic theatre

The Prince and Duchess of Cornwall were pictured enjoying the performances from a balcony inside the historic theatre

Prince Charles waves as he arrives with Camilla for an event at the Grand Theatre of Havana Alicia Alonso in Havana today

Prince Charles waves as he arrives with Camilla for an event at the Grand Theatre of Havana Alicia Alonso in Havana today

Charles smiles as he looks at his wife during the gala performance tonight on their royal visit to communist-run Cuba

Charles smiles as he looks at his wife during the gala performance tonight on their royal visit to communist-run Cuba

Charles and Camilla with Carlos Acosta, founder and director of Acosta Danza, watch a performance during a visit to the Acosta Dance Company in Havana yesterday

Charles and Camilla with Carlos Acosta, founder and director of Acosta Danza, watch a performance during a visit to the Acosta Dance Company in Havana yesterday

Earlier on Tuesday the pair were pictured as they arrived at a British classic car event in Havana.

With their heir to the throne behind the wheel in borrowed black MG TD, and his wife at his side, they made a stylish entrance as they pulled up outside the Cuban capital's famous John Lennon Park.

Charles had apparently grabbed the chance to test drive the vintage 1953 vehicle that mysteriously found its way to Havana the previous day.

He told onlookers: 'The one I was driving is the most beautiful car. It has an incredibly powerful accelerator. It is incredibly close to the brake so you have to be careful you don't press the wrong one.'

His wife, elegant in a mint green Anna Valentine dress and parasol, needed a little help to get out of the low-slung car. She joked: 'You try getting out of that elegantly!' 

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive at a British Classic Car event in Havana today during their tour of Cuba

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive at a British Classic Car event in Havana today during their tour of Cuba

The rally in Havana today features other lovingly restored vehicles from the golden age of British sports cars

The rally in Havana today features other lovingly restored vehicles from the golden age of British sports cars

The Prince of Wales holds a cigar as he attends the British classic car event at John Lennon Square in Havana today

The Prince of Wales holds a cigar as he attends the British classic car event at John Lennon Square in Havana today

The car had been loaned to the royal couple by Eduardo Bermudez, 47, a local restaurant owner and band manager

The car had been loaned to the royal couple by Eduardo Bermudez, 47, a local restaurant owner and band manager

Turning to look at the range of cars on show, she laughed and said: 'I remember most of these cars. Shows how old I am!'

The car had been lent to the royal couple by Eduardo Bermudez, 47, a local restaurant owner and band manager, who spotted it eight years ago rusting in a garage and persuaded the owner to sell it.

He spent two years doing it up and says it is the pride and joy of his collection. 'It's just like my baby! ' he said/ 'He was crazy to sell it - crazy like me!'

Asked whether he drives it himself, he exclaimed: 'No, never! Well maybe once a month. Everyone knows my car. It is the best British car in Cuba. '

But did he have any reservations about allowing the heir to the throne to get behind the wheel? 'No! Of course I trust him, I know it is in safe hands,' he smiled. 'I am so excited, actually.

'Everyone in Cuba has American cars but for me the British ones are unique, different. The best sports cars come from England in the 1950s. 

Cuba is well known for its classic cars which are still in use today due to the draconian communist regime

Cuba is well known for its classic cars which are still in use today due to the draconian communist regime

The Prince of Wales drives the Duchess of Cornwall to the classic British car rally in Havana in an MG TD sportscar from 1953

The Prince of Wales drives the Duchess of Cornwall to the classic British car rally in Havana in an MG TD sportscar from 1953

Charles, the owner of an Aston Martin DB5 Volante convertible, had a practice run in the MG before his journey today

Charles, the owner of an Aston Martin DB5 Volante convertible, had a practice run in the MG before his journey today

'The ambassador rang me a week ago and asked me if the prince could borrow it and I said yes, of course. He took it for a practice yesterday, I was told. '

Cuba is well known for its classic cars which are still in use today due to the draconian communist regime. 

While most are American classics, there are some British cars and motorbikes from the 1950s on the road and their owners regularly get together.

The couple were greeted by Nelida Lupe Fuentes Macias, a representative of British car enthusiasts, before walking up and down, viewing the vehicles on show.

The Prince - who has a classic Aston Martin himself - was clearly in his element, lagging behind his wife and chatting enthusiastically with the owners standing by their vehicles, which included everything from Jaguars to Morris Minors.

'He's never going to leave, he loves his cars,' Camilla remarked, smiling. 'He's really rather in his element.' 

Prince Charles and Camilla greet well-wishers in Havana today as their landmark tour of Cuba continues

Prince Charles and Camilla greet well-wishers in Havana today as their landmark tour of Cuba continues

The Prince of Wales helps the Duchess of Cornwall out of an MG TD sportscar from 1953 as they arrive at the event today

The Prince of Wales helps the Duchess of Cornwall out of an MG TD sportscar from 1953 as they arrive at the event today

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall ride in the MG TD sportscar today during their historic trip to Cuba

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall ride in the MG TD sportscar today during their historic trip to Cuba

The Prince - who has a classic Aston Martin himself - was clearly in his element at the event in Havana today

The Prince - who has a classic Aston Martin himself - was clearly in his element at the event in Havana today

They also met Lazaro William Gonzalez Ruiz, head of The British Classic Motorbike Enthusiasts, who was wearing a bandanna and sporting leathers and metal jewellery.

Charles and Camilla seemed rather tickled by his appearance and chatted at length to him, through an interpreter, about his passion before looking at the bikes on show, including a 1956 Norton.

'Now motorbikes, that's something else he loves,' said the duchess.

Afterward they were introduced to musicians from Submarino Amarillo (Yellow Submarine) Bar in Vedado, who had been serenading them with a variety of Beatles classics.

The legendary Liverpudlian band is hugely popular in Cuba as during the 50s and 60s, the ruling Communist party banned citizens from listening to American music due to the aggression between the two nations.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall get out of their vintage MG to visit the classic car event in Havana today

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall get out of their vintage MG to visit the classic car event in Havana today

The Prince of Wales embraced Cuba's love of vintage motoring as he met people at the event in Havana today

The Prince of Wales embraced Cuba's love of vintage motoring as he met people at the event in Havana today

Charles and Camilla sit on a bench at John Lennon Park in Havana today as their tour of Cuba continues

Charles and Camilla sit on a bench at John Lennon Park in Havana today as their tour of Cuba continues

Many turned to British music instead, particularly The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

They then walked along into the park's John Lennon square where they sat on bench which has a statue of the distinctive Beatles singer sculpted by Cuban artist, Jose Villa Soberon, sitting on it, alongside a marble plaque inscribed with lyrics from John Lennon's song, 'Imagine'.

Before leaving the park they chatted with members of the local British community in Havana, organised by the British Embassy.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall met one of the legends of Cuban music today at a recording studio in Havana.

Eliades Ochoa, who played in the original line-up of the Buena Vista Social Club, told them about the history of the band - and told the couple that their visit might even inspire a new version of band, many of whose original members have died since their album became a worldwide success in 1996.

They met Ochoa at the Egrem state recording studio, which is the heart of Cuban music recording.

Most of Cuba's major stars have recorded there, including members of Buena Vista Social Club, the band that was brought together to revive the music of pre-revolutionary Cuba and was the subject of an award-winning documentary by Wim Wenders.

The couple were told how the studio opened in 1944, and after the revolution came under the control of the state record label Egrem. International stars as well as Cubans have recorded there, including Nat King Cole who recorded his first Spanish-language album there.

Ochoa, one of the band's guitarists, told them how the original line-up of Buena Vista Social Club was meant to include a number of African musicians. 'They told us that the Africans were going to come tomorrow, and then the next day, and then later.' 

Charles was loaned a car once owned by Britain's ambassador to Cuba in 1957 - two years before Fidel Castro's revolution

Charles was loaned a car once owned by Britain's ambassador to Cuba in 1957 - two years before Fidel Castro's revolution

Finally, he said, they never came, and the band recruited Cuban musicians who would go on to become world famous, among them Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer and Ruben Gonzalez.

He told Charles and Camilla: 'Now with your visit we are given the strength to form another Buena Vista Social Club. We are grateful that you are here.'

They then listened to a performance by a quartet of younger jazz musicians led by saxophone player Michel Herrera, who afterwards met the duchess and greeted her with a kiss.

Amanda Fenton, who runs a B&B and has lived in Havana for five years said: 'She said it was an interesting place, very nice - but a bit hot on occasions.' 

The couple will later meet members of the Buena Vista Social Club at a Havana recording studio. The group became worldwide celebrities when their 1997 album became a surprise global hit and Grammy award winner.  

Yesterday, the Prince of Wales was formally welcomed to Cuba by its president as the royal visit was hailed as a boost to Britain's post-Brexit ambitions.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel and his wife Lis Cuesta greeted Charles and Camilla on Monday evening at the end of their first full day in the communist country.

In a ceremony at Havana's Palace of the Revolution, the prince inspected a guard of honour before introducing Mr Diaz-Canel to his entourage of aides - including his wife.

The duchess and the president had met earlier in the palace where they shook hands and chatted before the formal ceremony began, followed by talks between the Cuban leader and the heir to the throne and dinner.

Earlier that day Carlos Acosta, who is artistic director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, said that as the Communist country of his birth continued to open up culturally and economically, it was time for the UK to also build bridges as it left the EU. 

Members of The British Classic Motorbike Enthusiasts Representative arrive at the classic car event in Havana today

Members of The British Classic Motorbike Enthusiasts Representative arrive at the classic car event in Havana today

Charles and Camilla have made history by becoming the first members of the royal family to visit Cuba in an official capacity

Charles and Camilla have made history by becoming the first members of the royal family to visit Cuba in an official capacity

And Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the visit as 'a great example of bold & pragmatic UK diplomacy' in a tweet.

Countries of the world still awaiting a royal visit

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall became the first representatives of the British royal family to visit Cuba when their plane touched down in Havana.

Charles and Camilla's groundbreaking trip is likely to usher in a new chapter in the relationship between the UK and the Communist state once ruled by Fidel Castro.

The Queen is, unsurprisingly, the most well-travelled of the royal family, having paid official visits to more than 100 countries during her time on the throne. 

Her reign began on foreign soil after her father George VI died while she was staying in Kenya. There are a number of countries and territories which the Queen has not visited, including some former members of the Soviet Bloc.

In contrast, vast swathes of the South Pacific have been covered by royal visits from the Queen such as Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji on board the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Royal visits to South America have been rare - possibly due to the reach of Britain's empire not extending beyond British Guiana and the Falkland Islands.

The Queen visited Brazil and Chile in 1968 and Guyana in 1994. Closer to home, and the changing face of Europe over the last 30 years has meant there are newer countries which have not been visited.

Albania and Belarus are still to be visited, while the Queen took in Belgrade, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb when it was part of Yugoslavia in 1974.

Many Commonwealth members have received the British head of state or a representative, but many other African countries have not, including Mali in the west and Djibouti in the east.

A number of Asian countries are also awaiting their first glimpse of British royalty, including North Korea.

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Acosta met the prince and his wife after they began their historic trip to Cuba by touring the old quarter of Havana, where they were mobbed by press and the public in chaotic scenes.

Charles played the tourist when they stopped to listen to a traditional band and dropped a coin in their collection hat, while Camilla's visit to the capital was sealed with a kiss - a peck on the hand from a street performer.

The ballet star welcomed Charles and Camilla to his dance company, which is helping disadvantaged young people from across the region fulfil their potential.

Speaking about the visit - a first by members of the royal family - the dancer said: 'I think it's a big, big deal, especially with all the Brexit, the UK is looking for emerging markets and different partnerships and to sort of build bridges with other nations, and Cuba is doing the same, which is really great.'

Acosta was principal guest dancer for seventeen years with the Royal Ballet and performed many times in front of the prince.

He added: 'From the Cuban perspective it is a time for building bridges, to reach out to the world, and I think also for the UK they are doing the same with this inevitable Brexit going forward, so I think it's just the perfect fit.'

Charles's visit offers an opportunity for the UK and Cuban governments to forge closer ties in the wake of the soft diplomacy employed by members of the royal family, who use it to make friends and build bridges during foreign tours.

Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said: 'While Charles and Camilla aren't formal representatives of the Government, they obviously have influence and if they can use their visit to Havana as an opportunity to raise human rights issues that would be most welcome.'

Antony Stokes, Britain's ambassador to Cuba, said the recent widening of internet availability by the Cuban government allowed the views of ordinary people to be heard.

He added: 'That gives us an opportunity to talk about freedom of expression. By engaging at a high level, we can have an interchange about how we see the advantages of freedom of expression, and what the government might do here to improve its human rights record.'

Bystanders watch from one of Havana's beautiful stucco'd buildings as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall make their way past

Bystanders watch from one of Havana's beautiful stucco'd buildings as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall make their way past

Charles and Camilla sit and watch a dance performance as they visit Areito EGREM Recording Studios in Havana on Tuesday

Charles and Camilla sit and watch a dance performance as they visit Areito EGREM Recording Studios in Havana on Tuesday

The Prince of Wales tries honey during a tour of the organic farm 'Finca Marta' on Tuesday afternoon with the help of a local beekeeper

The Prince of Wales tries honey during a tour of the organic farm 'Finca Marta' on Tuesday afternoon with the help of a local beekeeper

The Duchess of Cornwall was told Britain has some catching up to do when it comes to women’s equality during a visit to members of the Federation of Cuban Women in Havana, where she was told women enjoy equal pay to men in the socialist state.

The round table discussion also championed the fact that despite being ruled by Fidel Castro and his brother Raul for 57 years, the Cuban parliament now boasts the second highest number of women of any parliament in the world.

The Federation, which has 4.3 million members making up 91.7 per cent of the female population of the Communist state, helps women aged 14 and above to find work, access health care and gain support if they find themselves in vulnerable situations.

Camilla has made gender equality and issues such as domestic violence the cornerstone of her public work.

The Federation’s prevention officer Mayra Diaz Garcia said: “In Cuba women have the same rights as men. We are so glad the Duchess has come to see all we have achieved here and we hope that can be replicated by women who live in difficult conditions around the world”.

More than 64 per cent of Cuban women work in a profession. Forty eight per cent work for the state while 34 per cent are employed by the private sector. Cuba has the second highest number of women in parliament of any other country in the world. Two of the top three positions in Government are occupied by women including the vice presidency. 

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