Ceremonies and a formal handover take place in Barbados ahead of its reconstitution as a Republic the following day. Barbados is the first Commonwealth member state to become a Republic since Mauritius in 1992. Barbados’ objective was to “remove the taint of colonialism”. Prince Charles, next King of England, represented Head of State, the Queen of Barbados, at the handover proving it can be done civily and graciously. Queen Elizabeth II’s “other realms” have now shunk from 15 to 14, principal among them Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
