The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda announced that his Caribbean nation will hold a referendum that could lead to it becoming a republic and removing King Charles III as the head of state within the next few years. This former British colony gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1981 and is one of 14 countries, alongside the UK, that is headed by the British monarch. It is also part of the Commonwealth, an organization consisting of 56 members, most of which are former British colonies.
After King Charles III was designated as the monarch of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated that he "intends to hold a referendum on whether the country should become a republic in the next three years." Browne remarked, "This is a question that should be put to a referendum to let the people decide," clarifying that this does not imply "any form of disrespect towards the king. This is not a hostile act, nor is there any disagreement between Antigua and Barbuda and the monarchy," noting that it would be "the final step to complete the circle of independence to become a truly sovereign nation."
Questions arose in March regarding the continued role of the monarchy in the region after William and Catherine, then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited three Commonwealth realms—Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas—in a trip aimed at celebrating the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. This trip was described as "filled with many issues," where the Prime Minister of Jamaica told them that the country is "moving forward" and will achieve its "true ambition" to be "independent."
It is noteworthy that Barbados also severed its "last imperial ties with Britain by declaring itself a republic" last year. This was the first decision by a country to "remove the British monarch from the head of state" in nearly three decades, with the last nation to take this step being Mauritius in 1992. Like Barbados, it remained part of the Commonwealth.
