Nearly 400 years following the arrival of first English ship on its golden beaches, the former British colony of Barbados has finally become a republic.
This tiny island country dethroned Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state in a magnificent ceremony, marking its severance of ties with the British royal family.
After becoming a republic, Barbados cut off its last remaining imperial bonds to the U.K. The ceremony was conducted 55 years to the day since the country got full independence but kept the monarch in the ceremonial position.
As the midnight reaches local time, the new republic was born to the applause of locals. The event was marked by a 21-gun salute along with the Barbadian national anthem.
Sandra Mason, a Barbadian who had worked as the country’s governor general or queen’s representative, took oath as the island nation’s first president. Last month, she was elected to the position by Parliament but Prime Minister Mia Mottley will continue to run the affairs of the country.
At the ceremony, the premier honoured pop star and a native Barbadian, Rihanna, as the country’s national hero. Earlier, she was designated as ambassador for the country in 2018. Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, was also in attendance at the event.
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