Less than two days after Elizabeth’s death, Charles was officially proclaimed king on Saturday. Among the fifteen states that recognized the new monarch as their head of state, half are in the Caribbean. Some elements of understanding of the issues with Adrien Rodd, lecturer in British and Commonwealth civilization at Versailles-Saint-Quentin University.
Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia. Excluding British Overseas Territories, King Charles III is now Head of State in these Caribbean countries, as well as the Bahamas and, on the mainland, Belize.
Until 2021, her mother Elizabeth II was also queen of Barbados, where the monarchy has since been abolished.
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On British colonial history
From a real craze at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth II, these kingdoms gradually slipped towards a certain distrust of the monarchy, linked to colonialism and slavery.
What are the implications of such a change at the head of the British monarchy for these states? Response from Adrien Rodd, lecturer in British and Commonwealth civilization at the University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
What some of them might expect would be a monarch who would perhaps be a little less self-effacing, a little less neutral, a little more attentive to expectations and demands, and who could, for example, express clearly and explicitly his regrets vis-à-vis the colonial history, the history of slavery.
Can we expect Charles III to take such initiatives? Adrian Rodd:
I don’t think so, because in a certain British press, reproaches have sometimes been leveled at him on his lack of withdrawal, on his lack of neutrality, on the fact that some of his opinions are known whereas the opinions of the Queen on some controversial subject whatsoever, have never been known, so it will be necessary precisely for King Charles to put himself further in the background. The only aspect that Charles could be appreciated for is that he has been known to have had a very long interest in environmental issues, which are a matter of concern for the small island states of the Caribbean.
Adrien Rodd, University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
Republicanism in the Caribbean
“ It exists, recalls the lecturer in British and Commonwealth civilization, republican movements in several of these countries, notably in Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. »
These republican movements have had great difficulty in mobilizing public opinion, in part because for most people the Crown has absolutely no impact on their daily lives and therefore it is difficult to take a strong stand against the monarchy, but also because of the respect accorded to the person of the queen. And so there are Republican activists in many of these countries who have, for some time, taken the approach that the death of the Queen would be the opportune moment to try to revitalize their cause by counting on the hope that the affection enjoyed by the Queen would not transfer to King Charles, and that this would truly be the opportune moment to propose a rupture.
Adrien Rodd: ‘Republican movements in the Caribbean think it’s their time’
Funeral September 19
Officially proclaimed king by the Accession Council meeting in London, Charles III said he was ready this Saturday, September 10 to assume his ” duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereign.
” Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the death of our Lady Sovereign of happy memory, become our Charles III… May God preserve the King proclaimed the Accession Board.
The heir to the throne, Prince William, said in a statement that he now intends ” sustain ” the king, ” in every possible way “, and this in honor of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.
The ceremony, televised for the first time, took place at Saint James’s Palace in the presence of the new Queen Consort, Camilla, the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Liz Truss and several of the latter’s predecessors.
The funeral of Elizabeth II, who died Thursday in Scotland, will take place on Monday September 19 in London, Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday. Leaders from around the world are expected.
►Read again: Charles III officially proclaimed King of the United Kingdom