Antigua, Barbuda Drops King Charles from Oath
(MENAFN) Antigua and Barbuda has inaugurated a new government under a landmark constitutional change that strips any reference to the British monarch from the official oath of office — a quiet but historic break from a post-independence tradition stretching back more than four decades.
The twin-island Caribbean nation formally separated from Britain in 1981, yet retained the British sovereign as constitutional head of state within the Commonwealth framework. That arrangement remained largely intact until Parliament passed an amendment late last year excising all mention of King Charles III and his successors from the oath of allegiance. Elected officials are now bound instead to pledge loyalty exclusively to Antigua and Barbuda, its constitution, and its laws.
Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony followed Prime Minister Gaston Browne's commanding fourth consecutive election win — a victory that extended his party's grip on power to well over a decade. Browne called the vote nearly two years ahead of schedule, framing it as a bid for a fresh mandate in the face of global economic headwinds. The gamble paid off decisively: his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party swept 15 of the country's 17 parliamentary seats.
Notably, the oath revision stops short of a full constitutional rupture. King Charles retains his position as head of state, and Antigua and Barbuda remains a member of the Commonwealth — meaning the change is largely symbolic, though politically charged.
The move places Antigua and Barbuda within a broader regional trend. Barbados made history in 2021 as the most recent Caribbean nation to transition to a republic while staying within the Commonwealth. Across the bloc, only 15 of 56 member states still recognize the British monarch as sovereign.
The shift also arrives as the monarchy faces deepening skepticism closer to home. A 2025 British Social Attitudes survey found public backing for the institution had sunk to its lowest recorded level since tracking began in 1983, with just 51% of respondents in favor of preserving it.
The twin-island Caribbean nation formally separated from Britain in 1981, yet retained the British sovereign as constitutional head of state within the Commonwealth framework. That arrangement remained largely intact until Parliament passed an amendment late last year excising all mention of King Charles III and his successors from the oath of allegiance. Elected officials are now bound instead to pledge loyalty exclusively to Antigua and Barbuda, its constitution, and its laws.
Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony followed Prime Minister Gaston Browne's commanding fourth consecutive election win — a victory that extended his party's grip on power to well over a decade. Browne called the vote nearly two years ahead of schedule, framing it as a bid for a fresh mandate in the face of global economic headwinds. The gamble paid off decisively: his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party swept 15 of the country's 17 parliamentary seats.
Notably, the oath revision stops short of a full constitutional rupture. King Charles retains his position as head of state, and Antigua and Barbuda remains a member of the Commonwealth — meaning the change is largely symbolic, though politically charged.
The move places Antigua and Barbuda within a broader regional trend. Barbados made history in 2021 as the most recent Caribbean nation to transition to a republic while staying within the Commonwealth. Across the bloc, only 15 of 56 member states still recognize the British monarch as sovereign.
The shift also arrives as the monarchy faces deepening skepticism closer to home. A 2025 British Social Attitudes survey found public backing for the institution had sunk to its lowest recorded level since tracking began in 1983, with just 51% of respondents in favor of preserving it.
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