Prince William, Kate Middleton make chocolate in Belize as tour brightens

Prince William and his wife Kate danced with Belizean villagers and helped make traditional chocolate on Sunday as the second day of their Caribbean tour passed off smoothly following an awkward start to the weeklong trip.

The arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the Central American country coincides with the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's 70th year on the throne and comes at a time of growing scrutiny of past British conduct in the Caribbean.

Before the couple had even left Britain, a local protest prompted organizers to change their planned itinerary on Sunday in Belize, which was known until 1973 as British Honduras.

Their visit takes place nearly four months after Barbados voted to become a republic, cutting ties with Britain's monarchy but remaining part of the British-led Commonwealth of Nations.

An event for the duke and duchess planned for Sunday morning in the southern village of Indian Creek was canceled after a few dozen residents staged a protest on Friday.

By then, the royal couple were on their new itinerary, which saw them embark on the Che'il Mayan Chocolate tour nearby. William and Kate both ground cacao seeds on the ka'ah, a traditional stone tool used by both Q'eqchi' and Mopan Mayas.

Afterward the queen's grandson and his wife went to Hopkins village, a traditional Garifuna community. (Reuters)