King Charles III has just addressed the British Parliament, now it’s time for the king to sit back and mourn his late mother, the Queen. But something more worrisome has just knocked his Kingdom and the entire Common Wealth, the libration of some member States in the Common Wealth especially those from North American Region. In addition to the UK, the King is head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms – but the monarchy’s future role in some of these countries appears less certain after the Queen’s death.
Notable amongst the growing calls is that ot the twin-island States of Antigua and Barbuda whose Prime Minister (Gaston Browne) has said “in the next two to three years he sees the twin island becoming a republic.”
The Caribbean nation of Antigua is one of 14 countries to hold the English ruler as their head of state.
Browne marked a record affirming Charles III’s status as the new Ruler, yet minutes after the fact, said he would push for a republic mandate in the wake of showing such a move recently during a visit by the Duke and Countess of Wessex.
Browne further expressed that “This isn’t a demonstration of aggression or any contrast among Antigua and Barbuda and the Monarchy, however it is the last move towards completing that circle of freedom or independence, to guarantee that we are really a sovereign country.
Browne in April approached the Wessexes during an official visit to Antigua in April to use their “discretionary impact” to accomplish “reparatory equity”, and framed his nation’s desire to one day become a republic.
Prince Edward was censured as “pompous” for joking that he had not been taking notes during Browne’s remarks.
William and Kate, in the mean time, were blamed for beholding back to pilgrim days in Jamaica in Spring after the pair warmly greeted crowd behind a wire mesh fence and rode toward the rear of a Land Rover, similarly as the Queen had done 60 years earlier.
The 14 realms are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.
In November 2021, Barbados became a republic, replacing the monarch with a president as head of state, and there has since been speculation that other countries, such as Jamaica, could follow suit.
The future role of the Monarchy in these nations is probably going to go under restored examination following the demise of the Queen, and after discussions encompassing regal outings to Caribbean nations by the new Prince and Princess of Wales and the Earl and Countess of Wessex in March and April, separately.
William and Kate’s imperial trip in March to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas was censured over supposedly “tome deaf” pictures, which critics claimed were reminiscent of colonial days.
In case you are not aware
- The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Isle of Man) and the British Overseas Territories. The current monarch is King Charles III, who ascended the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
- The monarch and their immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial, diplomatic and representational duties. As the monarchy is constitutional, the monarch is limited to functions such as bestowing honours and appointing the prime minister, which are performed in a non-partisan manner.
- The British monarchy traces its origins from the petty kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England and early medieval Scotland, which consolidated into the kingdoms of England and Scotland by the 10th century.
