Prince Charles travels to Barbados to formally abolish the monarchy

Prince Charles traveled to the former British colony of Barbados for the abolition ceremony in late November. His office said, on Friday, that the British Crown Prince will attend the festivities as a guest of honor at the invitation of Prime Minister Mia Amor Motley. Barbados officially became a republic on November 30, and Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, lost her position as head of state.

© Jacob King
Prince Charles traveled to the former British crown colony of Barbados to abolish the monarchy in late November. The heir to the British throne will attend as guest of honor at the invitation of Prime Minister Mia Amor Motley.

The Caribbean island was captured by Great Britain in 1625. In 1966 Barbados gained its independence, but the Queen remained at the head of the state at that time. As in some other Commonwealth countries, it has hitherto been represented locally by the Governor-General.

The current Governor-General Sandra Mason announced the formal separation from the British Crown in September 2020. “It is time to leave our colonial past completely behind,” she said. At the end of November, Mason officially took over as head of state of Barbados.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the time that this was “a matter for the government and people of Barbados”. Prince Charles’ office said Prince Charles will now attend the ceremony as the future head of the Commonwealth. Barbados will remain a member of this loose union of 54 countries.

The Queen will go on to serve as head of state in 15 former colonies, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tuvalu.

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