Six of the fourteen former colonies of which he’s nonetheless head of state have requested independence from the United Kingdom Some Commonwealth leaders have reportedly rejected the invitation in protest of British colonialism Camila is not going to put on the Koh-i-nur, one of many largest diamonds of the world, confiscated from India, for not offending the Commonwealth international locations
On November 29, 2021, the then Crown Prince Charles attended a humiliating ceremony for him on the Caribbean island of Barbados to cease having the queen (Elizabeth II lived on the time) as head of state and change into a republic. The ceremony consisted of decreasing the flag with the royal banner of the Windsors, folding it and inserting it folded in a field. In this fashion, an finish to a few hundred and ninety-six years of relationship between the 2 international locations. Barbados had change into impartial in 1966, however was nonetheless a monarchy.
The Prince of Wales gave a speech referring to the darkish interval of colonialism, however with out going into depth. Sandra Mason was then appointed as the primary feminine president of Barbados. Singer Rihanna witnessed the ceremony in individual. Carlos’s speech was broadly criticized for not having included any financial reparation for the victims. They complained, for instance, that when slavery was abolished, the British authorities compensated plantation house owners, however not the slaves that had been trafficked from Africa.
The Commonwealth is a corporation made up of fifty-six international locations, former colonies and abroad territories of the British Empire. Carlos III continues to be the pinnacle of state of fourteen of those international locations. And of those fourteen international locations, six need to observe within the footsteps of Barbados and have requested to disassociate themselves from the United Kingdom and maintain a republican referendum. These are Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Bahamas.
On a Caribbean tour of Princes William and Catherine in March 2022 to commemorate the queen’s jubilee, they had been to go to Belize, the Bahamas and Jamaica, however they needed to cancel a part of the journey as a result of anti-monarchy protests, particularly, they canceled the go to to Belize. In Jamaica, politicians, teachers and personalities from the nation revealed a letter through which they demanded that the British monarchy apologize “for crimes in opposition to humanity, together with, amongst others, the exploitation of indigenous Jamaicans, the transatlantic trafficking of Africans, the enslavement of Africans and colonization”.
The recipients of the letter had been Prince William and Catherine as “direct beneficiaries of the wealth collected by the royal household by way of the trafficking and enslavement of Africans.” In the Bahamas they had been met with extra protests in opposition to colonialism and slavery. Given the hostility of the locals encountered through the tour, on the banquet in his honor, Guillermo identified that he’ll assist with “pleasure and respect” any resolution to change into a republic in any of his territories.
letter to the king
All this declare and generally hostility from the previous colonies had been postponed because of the huge respect that they had for the queen, however with the change of monarch and with the coronation of Carlos III, the talk has intensified. Two days earlier than the coronation, indigenous advocacy teams from 12 of the 14 British Commonwealth international locations have referred to as on the brand new British monarch to “acknowledge the horrible impacts and legacy of genocide, the colonization of indigenous peoples and enslaved peoples”.
Representatives of organizations from Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Lucia participated within the drafting of the letter, dated May 4. Vincent and the Grenadines. They requested Carlos III to “commit instantly to start out discussions on reparations,” repatriate stays, and return cultural artifacts. Some Commonwealth leaders reportedly declined the invitation in protest of British colonialism and the slave commerce origin of their fortune.
Given this improve in discomfort within the Commonwealth international locations, the British Royal House has determined that Camila not put on the Koh-i-nur, which is without doubt one of the largest diamonds on the earth, the biggest on the time, in order to not offend the Commonwealth international locations had already been confiscated in India by the British East India Company in 1849 within the struggle in opposition to the Sikhs and whose presence had generated controversy.
The starting of the reign of Elizabeth II was marked by the independence of the British colonies and the top of the British Empire. Seventy years later, the period of Carlos III begins, which may be seen marked by the discount of the monarchies of the Commonwealth following the instance of Barbados and by a lack of affect.
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