The final act of Barbados’ four centuries’ long relationship with the British crown is to be witnessed in person by the man who was once destined to become King of Barbados, Charles, Prince of Wales.
Prince Charles, the heir to Queen Elizabeth II, is to visit Barbados to mark its transition to a Republic within the Commonwealth on November 30, a British diplomatic announcement said Friday.
And the future king is coming at the behest of Prime Minister Mia Mottley, days after she was accused in the British media of ignoring him during his speech on the climate crisis.
On that date, his mother the Queen, Head of State of Barbados as a Commonwealth realm since independence in 1966 is to be replaced by a Barbadian. The monarch is also head of the 54-nation Commonwealth, the association of mostly former British colonies and dominions that binds 2.4 billion people.
A brief statement issued by the British High Commission here said: “The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley extended an invitation to the Prince, as future head of the Commonwealth, to be the guest of honour at the Republic Celebration events.
“His Royal Highness will also undertake a short programme of engagements in Barbados.”
Prime Minister Mottley and the Prince of Wales met during this week’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.
At a news conference from Brussels on Thursday, Mottley gave an assurance that Prince Charles remains “a friend of Barbados”.
Her comments came amid widespread reports in the British press that suggested she snubbed the Prince of Wales while he delivered his speech at Monday’s opening of the COP26 by appearing to check her phone as he walked to the podium and then later failing to clap at the end of his speech while still on her phone.
Mottley dismissed the reports saying: “We are in a good place, believe you me.
“I use this opportunity to deprecate those parts of the British press who tried to say what I was doing and that I was snubbing or ignoring Prince Charles by looking into my phone.
“You know what I was writing in my phone; I was writing two sentences for my speech so I don’t forget them.”
The Prime Minister also announced that the activities to mark the transition to the republic are likely to begin next week.
“We are doing things sensitive to COVID but also reflecting the moment in time,” she told journalists, adding that she would reveal more details on her return home. (SD)
