This will be one of the challenges of the new King Charles III: to maintain the union and harmony of the Commonwealth, at a time when republican desires are agitating certain former British colonies. This Sunday, the sovereign, head of state of 14 countries in addition to the United Kingdom, received representatives of the Commonwealth realms at Buckingham Palace in London.
The Commonwealth is made up of 56 states, mostly former British colonies, including 15 kingdoms (including the United Kingdom, Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, New Zealand and Jamaica) including the monarch is also the head of state.
During his third day as king, Charles III, head of the Commonwealth, received the secretary general of the organization Patricia Scotland, before receiving the high commissioners of the United Kingdom, a sort of ambassadors, from the different kingdoms.
Republican wishes
All of the Commonwealth countries have proclaimed Charles as their new king after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, like this Sunday in Scotland, but beyond the certain emotion aroused by the death of the monarch among the 2.5 billion inhabitants of these 56 states, some question Charles’ ability to inspire the same loyalty and fidelity than his mother.
Like the Caribbean island of Barbados, which became a Republic last year 55 years after gaining its independence from the United Kingdom, others plan to follow the same path. A significant proportion ofAustralians want their country to become a Republicincluding Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, even though he told Sky News that he was not considering a referendum in this regard during his first term.
At Canadathe Republicans remain in the minority, but a poll published last April showed that 67% of the population were not not in favor of Charles succeeding his mother.
And soon after Charles was confirmed king ofAntigua and Barbuda, the Prime Minister of this West Indies state, Gaston Brown, displayed his intention to hold a referendum “in the next three years”. “It’s not a hostile act” towards the monarchy, “but the last step to complete our path to independence”he assured the British television channel ITV.
During the official trip of Prince William and his wife Kate to the Jamaica in the spring, during which the couple had to face the criticism of the slavery past of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said “inevitable” his country’s transition to a republican regime.
The case of Scotland and Northern Ireland
Within the United Kingdom itself, the desires for independence of Scotland and Northern Ireland seem increasingly difficult to contain, since Brexit. This Sunday, during the proclamation of King Charles III in Edinburgh, “Republic now” (“Republic now!”) Were heard in the crowd during the ceremony. A proclamation attended by the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, in favor of a new referendum on the independence of Scotland. “I will not allow a new referendum”, promised Liz Truss just before becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Despite the British government’s repeated refusal, the Scottish leader intends to organize a new referendum on Scottish independence on October 19, 2023, nine years after the consultation which had resulted in a 55% vote in favor of remaining within the United Kingdom. Despite the 2014 precedent, Ms Sturgeon believes Brexit has been a game-changer.
Free to abandon the lap of the monarchy
Long before becoming king, Charles criss-crossed the Commonwealth, with the royal family’s official website indicating that he visited 45 of the 56 member states. He has often displayed his attachment to the organization, saying in 2013 that it is “in (his) blood” and saying in a speech in 2010 that she “encourages and celebrates cultural diversity”.
Last June, at the meeting of Commonwealth leaders, the man whom former British Prime Minister David Cameron described as “superb diplomat”, considered, however, that the Member States were free to abandon the bosom of the monarchy, also expressing its “sadness” for Britain’s slave past. At this same meeting, Gabon and Togo, two French-speaking countries in West Africa, joined the Commonwealthseeking in particular to strengthen their links with a market of 2.5 billion inhabitants.