What, the party? And the Commonwealth wanted to get rid of King Charles

The coronation of Charles III at Westminster Abbey tomorrow will be a historic moment. He is formally the head of state not only for the British, but also for many countries in the world, the British Commonwealth of Nations. But many in those countries want to remove the monarch from distant London.

Yesterday a Jamaican minister said it was time for the country to become a republic. Although Jamaica has been independent since 1962, it is still part of the Commonwealth, so King Charles is the head of state.

New motivation

The minister said his coronation was not a cause for celebration in Jamaica, but a new impetus to break away from the monarchy. “Many Jamaicans had warm feelings for Queen Elizabeth,” said Secretary of State for Legal Affairs Marilyn Malahoo Forte, “but they didn’t recognize King Charles.”

That feeling is an irreversible process, says reporter Ann Chanen. “Charles has to find a way to deal with it, but he can’t stop it.”

Practice for coronation.  Flags of all Commonwealth countries are passed in the parade.

Practice for coronation. Flags of all Commonwealth countries are passed in the parade.

Image © Getty Images

Besides Jamaica, five other countries have indicated that they want to remove the British monarch as head of state. All of them are located in the Caribbean, where the enthusiasm of the British royal family has declined significantly in recent years. More on that later, first some explanation about the Commonwealth, what the British call the Commonwealth.

During the colonial period, the British conquered most of the world. It was said that the sun never set on the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. That’s actually still true. Now there is a Commonwealth of Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations with Charles still as its head.

56 countries

The Commonwealth now consists of 56 countries. Most were former British colonies that, after independence, worked closely with each other and with London.

Of those 56 countries, apart from the United Kingdom, fourteen more have a British monarch as their formal head of state. Those countries are called Commonwealth countries. Canada, Australia and New Zealand are the most popular.

But the question is: for how long? Chris Hipkins, New Zealand’s new prime minister, is in London tomorrow for his coronation, but days ago said he wanted his country to be a republic with a self-elected head of state. He added that he was speaking personally and this will not become policy. His predecessor, Jacinda Ardern, also supported the republic.

The same sounds can be heard in Australia – here for a long time, by the way. In recent years, various governments have considered holding a referendum on this. The current prime minister has also appointed a special minister in his government to deal with Albania becoming a republic.

‘going’

‘We advance’: We advance freely. That was the news when Crown Prince William visited Jamaica last September. Host Prime Minister Holmes, as his minister did yesterday, made no bones about it: Jamaica wants to do away with the British monarchy.

There is a need to break away from the British royal family, especially in countries and island states in the Caribbean. In addition to Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis also want to remove Charles as king.

Prince William told Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness last year, 'We're making progress'.

Prince William told Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness last year, ‘We’re making progress’.

Image © Getty

The distance to Buckingham Palace is too far for many, literally and figuratively. “It’s definitely been going on for a long time,” says Anne Saanen. “Especially in the Caribbean, they’re not so much with the British royal family. The older generation, maybe, with Queen Elizabeth. But the young certainly aren’t anymore.”

So reactions to the upcoming coronation in Jamaica have been lukewarm. “It doesn’t bother me because I don’t see what they’re doing to us in Jamaica,” peanut seller Claudette Brown told Reuters news agency. “We have freedom, what do we do with a head of state so far away,” says carpenter David Brown.

Slavery

It is precisely this colonial history that plays an increasingly important role. At that time, the British began planting plantations in their Caribbean colonies and brought hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans there. The prosperity it created also benefited the royal family, and the new generation is highly critical of it.

These Jamaicans owe Prince Harry an apology during his visit last year.

These Jamaicans owe Prince Harry an apology during his visit last year.

Image © Getty Images

Civil rights activist Steven Golding told Reuters it was important for Jamaica to cut ties with the British monarchy. “I think this is the last piece of the puzzle when it comes to our sovereignty as a free nation, given the atrocities we endured during slavery.”

objections

When he visited several countries in the region in March last year, Crown Prince William and his wife Kate faced continued protests.

Anne Saenen: “Recently, the Caribbean countries have been accelerating the process of separation from the royal family. This is fueled by further decolonization and the desire for self-government. Barbados is also strengthening. Winning in 2021. Barbados was still the most British of all the countries in the region. At the Separation Ceremony Charles was himself.”

scandals

According to Channen, this also plays a role: “We know everything about King Charles’ personal life. We know nothing about his mother, who has impeccable manners, and indeed everyone’s mother. But all the scandals surrounding Charles’ divorce from Diana, his brother Andrew’s abusive affair and, more recently, Prince As for the crisis surrounding Harry and Meghan, the racism at play within the royal household: many Caribbeans are done with it.

King Charles knew the feeling of some nations.  But he can do little about it.

King Charles knew the feeling of some nations. But he can do little about it.

Image © Getty Images

Incidentally, the British royals are actually aware of the tainted colonial past. Prince William, who visited Jamaica last year, said slavery should never have happened. This is how Charles has expressed himself. But the official apology that many are asking for has not yet been forthcoming. Watch footage of William’s visit to Jamaica here:

Prince William speaks out: ‘Slavery should never have happened’

00:29

Charles cannot stop many countries from wanting to get rid of the royal family. “But he shows that he wants to modernize,” says Anne Saenen. “At the coronation, when he presents himself to the world, Charles wants to be more inclusive and will be greeted by leaders of other religions. It also has to be cheaper than being with his mother at that time, because the country is in a financial crisis and ordinary citizens are involved. He is very He wants to show that more people are human.”

Many countries under his rule could not stop him from removing him from the constitution. It’s not always easy. For this, the constitution of those countries should be amended. For example, in Jamaica and Grenada, a referendum must first be held in which two-thirds of the population must vote in favor.

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