Minutes after the government of the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda installed King Charles III as the country’s head of state, they immediately moved to remove him.
Within three years, the country’s population of around 80,000 will be able to vote on whether to keep the current constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch as head of state, or to introduce a republic.
– This is a last step towards independence to become a truly independent nation, the country’s prime minister Gaston Browne tells ITV.
Neither Browne, nor the country he leads, is alone in his desire to ruin the remnants of the British colonial era.
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Overall in 15 countries
During the more than 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the sun set over what was once the British Empire.
However, the legacy is evident in a number of countries.
When the queen became monarch in 1952, she was head of state in 32 countries. Now King Charles III bare head of state in 14 countries, in addition to Great Britain.
That’s why Bear Grylls was invited
What all these 14 countries have in common is that they are former British colonies, which are now part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
In 2021, Barbados became the last country for the time being to announce the transition from monarchy to republic and, as a result, chose a head of state other than the British regent.
Belize, Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis have recently played openly with the idea of doing the same.
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– Compliance
British expert Erik Mustad, senior lecturer at Agder University (UiA), is “not particularly surprised” that more and more countries will now abandon the British monarch in favor of a new system of government.
– This is a remnant of the colonial era, and it is only natural for people to seek other forms of government now that the queen is dead, Mustad tells Dagbladet.
That’s why they wear red
The fact that the discussion really had legs to stand on after Queen Elizabeth II’s death is no accident, she believes.
– Out of respect for the position that the queen has held, I think several countries have left this discussion aside, says Mustad.
New Zealand, Australia and Canada also have the British monarch as head of state, but in these countries the debate on the abolition of the monarchy has not gained much momentum.
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Silence on the republic
Relatively new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is essentially a Republican, said a few days after the Queen’s death that time Not is in favor of the transition to the republic, writes British iNews.
He also previously stated that a referendum on the monarchy, Not it will be a priority in his first term in government, according to the British news site.
Refused to shake hands with mourners
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said after the queen’s death that the country “will one day be a republic”, but that the time for change is not yet ripe.
– We face many challenges. This is a big and meaningful debate. I don’t think it should or should be taken immediately, Ardern said Monday last week, according to iNews.
Even in Canada there has not been a great debate on the abolition of the monarchy.
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– Major consequences
There are mainly practical reasons why Australia and Canada in particular will not be transitioning from monarchy to republic anytime soon, Mustad believes.
– They can start their own internal processes on how it should be done, but it will still take longer and will have greater consequences for large countries like Canada and Australia than for small Caribbean countries, says the UK expert.
This has never happened before
In Canada, for example, the House of Commons, the Senate and the political leadership of all ten Canadian provinces must agree before a change of government can take place.
– I don’t see it happening anytime soon, says David Schneiderman, professor of political science at the University of Toronto. to the Canadian CTV.
– That they leave it pending for now makes sense, Mustad says.
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He can lose his
Mustad has no doubts that the countries ruled by King Charles III will decrease in number.
– In the long run, the UK will likely be the only country to want the British monarch as head of state, as long as the monarchy exists, says the UK expert.
Break the tradition
However, he has his doubts everything Britain will want to preserve the monarchy in the future.
In 2014, an independence referendum was held in Scotland, where 55% of the population voted no.
– Those who campaigned for Scottish independence were careful to say that they still wanted the British monarch as head of state. The next time a referendum is held, it’s not certain they will want it, Mustad says.
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