17 September 2020 - Barbados to remove Queen Elizabeth as head of state and become republic
Barbados revives plan to remove Queen as head of state and become a republic
(The Guardian, 16/09/2020)
Barbados has announced its intention to remove the Queen as its head of state and become a republic by November 2021.
A speech written by its prime minister, Mia Mottley, quoted a warning by the Caribbean island nation’s first premier, Errol Barrow, against “loitering on colonial premises”.
Reading the speech, governor-general Dame Sandra Mason said: “The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind. Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state.
Queen Elizabeth II Could Be Removed by More Countries as the 'House of Cards Falls'
Jack Royston (Newsweek, 16/09/2020)
Queen Elizabeth II could face a rash of countries removing her as head of state with Barbados causing the "house of cards" to fall, a royal expert has told Newsweek.
The Caribbean island announced plans on Tuesday to remove the queen as its head of state and achieve "full sovereignty" before the 55th anniversary of independence from the U.K. in November 2021.
The move has triggered speculation of a domino effect among pro- and anti-monarchy commentators alike.
Which countries recognise Queen Elizabeth as head of state?
Amy Coles (Sky News, 16/09/2020)
Barbados has become the latest Commonwealth country to become a republic - removing Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley said it was time to "fully leave our colonial past behind".
In recent years, conversations over the Queen's role as ruler of the Commonwealth realm nations have gained traction - with countries such as Jamaica proposing to replace her as head of state.
Queen and Commonwealth news: What will happen to Commonwealth when the Queen dies?
Aliss Higham (The Express, 16/09/2020)
The Queen has ruled over Britain longer than any other monarch and has seen more cultural and institutional changes throughout her reign than any other monarch. She has been the head of the Commonwealth since she ascended to the throne back in 1952. It has long been an integral part of her life - but now the monarch has been rocked by the declaration of independence by Caribbean nation Barbados.
The country plans to replace the Queen with its own sovereign head of state in a move that would make the island nation a republic.
Dame Sandra Mason, the country’s Governer-General, made the declaration that the country wanted a “Barbadian head of state.”