Queen Elizabeth II will lose her role in Barbados as the country seeks to leave behind its "colonial past." On Sept. 16, Barbados stated its intention to remove the Queen as its head of state by 2021—the 55th anniversary of the country's independence from British rule.
The Queen to be removed as head of state in Barbados by 2021
The Caribbean nation remained a constitutional monarchy headed by Her Majesty after gaining independence in 1966. However, Prime Minister Mia Mottley wrote a speech on the intention to become a republic and part ways with the Queen—and the colonial legacy she represents—by next year.
In a speech read by Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason, the PM of Barbados said: "The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind. Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state.
"This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving. Hence, Barbados will take the next logical step toward full sovereignty and become a republic by the time we celebrate our 55th anniversary of independence."
Buckingham Palace responded in a statement, saying "this is a matter for the government and people of Barbados."
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Queen Elizabeth II is monarch of the UK and 15 other countries
In addition to the UK, the Queen rules as monarch of 15 countries with former ties to the British empire. She last visited Barbados in 1989, but Prince Harry paid a notable visit to the island nation in 2016. While there, the Duke of Sussex spotlighted HIV testing and met with Barbadian-born musician Rihanna.
The Queen's continued rule in Barbados has long been a target for criticism in the country's post-colonial era, and it appears primed to be the first to remove the monarch since Mauritius did the same in 1992.
The Queen is currently at Balmoral Castle, her summer holiday residence, and will relocate to the Sandringham Estate sometime this week.
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