Monarchy of Barbados

The monarchy of Barbados was a system of government in which a hereditary monarch was the sovereign and head of state of Barbados from 1966 to 2021. Barbados shared the sovereign with the other Commonwealth realms, with the country's monarchy being separate and legally distinct. The monarch's operational and ceremonial duties were mostly delegated to her representative, the governor-general of Barbados.^[1]

Queen of Barbados

Her Majesty

30 November 1966

30 November 2021

The Barbados Independence Act 1966 transformed the colony of Barbados into the sovereign state of Barbados, with Elizabeth II as head of state. She was the only monarch from the independence of Barbados to the monarchy's abolition. As such, she was officially titled Queen of Barbados. The Barbadian Crown primarily functioned as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance and a nonpartisan safeguard against the abuse of power.

In September 2020, the Governor-General announced in the Throne Speech that Barbados would transition from a constitutional monarchy to a republic by the end of November 2021.^[2]^[3] The monarchy was abolished on 30 November 2021, when Barbados became a republic within the Commonwealth, with a president as its head of state.^[4]

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Bridgetown

Portraits of the Queen and Prince Philip displayed at Government House, Bridgetown

Flag of the Barbadian Governor-General featuring the St Edward's Crown

The Governor-General's car flying the flag, and displaying a crown on the number plate

A post box in Barbados featuring the royal cypher of Queen Elizabeth II

The headgear of members of the Royal Barbados Police Force featuring the St Edward's Crown

All references in the law of Barbados to Her Majesty the Queen, the Crown, and the Sovereign shall be read and construed as referring to the State;

All references to the Governor-General shall be read and construed as referring to the ;

President of Barbados

All references to "Her Majesty’s dominions" shall be read and construed as a reference to the Commonwealth of Nations.

Vesting the prerogatives or privileges of the Crown or Sovereign in the State, subject to the Constitution;

Vesting all the rights and privileges of the Governor-General in the President;

Vesting all property held by the Crown in the State;

Electing the first President in a joint sitting of the Parliament of Barbados by the joint nomination of the Prime Minister of Barbados and Leader of the Opposition by 15 October 2021 with the person elected to take office on 30 November 2021;

Following the end of the first President's term, future presidents will be elected by either a joint nomination of the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition or if there is no joint nomination, a vote of both houses of the Parliament of Barbados where a two-thirds majority is required;

President to serve a term of four years;

All the powers of the Governor-General transferred to the President;

Amending the official oaths of Barbados to remove references to the Queen.

[106]

The title 'Royal' will be removed from all institutions that have it in their name.

Barristers will no longer be appointed as - but most likely will be appointed Senior Counsel.

Queen's Counsel

List of Commonwealth visits made by Queen Elizabeth II

Monarchies in the Americas

List of monarchies

List of heads of state of Barbados

November 22, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Archive of Queen's Official website on Barbados

Archived

Burleigh, Craig (2017). . Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2017.

"Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee in Barbados ends with her first flight on Concorde on a record setting flight back to London Heathrow"

Elizabeth II (January 2010). . Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010.

"Queen and Barbados: Royal visits"

on YouTube, Visits to Barbados by the Royal Family over the decades

Diamond Jubilee Celebration for Queen Elizabeth II

Alleyne, Peta (3 December 2021). . Special. CBC Presents. Bridgetown, Barbados: Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) TV-8. Retrieved 9 December 2021.