The Transition from Constitutional Monarchy to Republic in Barbados

Volume 5 | December 12, 2021

Carolyn Harris Royal Historian Newsletter

Welcome to the December 2021 edition of the Carolyn Harris Royal Historian newsletter! On November 30, Barbados became a republic within the Commonwealth. The Prince of Wales attended the ceremony in Bridgetown where Governor General Sandra Mason became the first President of Barbados, succeeding Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. I compared and contrasted the history of the monarchy in Canada and Barbados in a variety of media interviews. I have also discussed the Queen's health in recent weeks and reviewed a new book about the succession in Early Modern Russia.

In January 2022, I will be offering a new course online at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies about the history of the monarchy from the reign of Queen Victoria to the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Click here for more information and to register.

Links to my recent media interviews about the history of the monarchy in Canada and Barbados

Television

November 29, 2021 Barbados formally removes Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, becomes a republic (Global National)

Radio

December 7, 2021 A Majority of Canadians Want to Ditch the British Monarchy. Can this be done? (CJAD 800) and 9 syndicated radio interviews for CBC News

News Articles

December 5, 2021 Preparing to do more: Barbados visit reflects evolving role of Prince Charles in royal transition (CBC News)

December 2, 2021 Majority of Canadians want to ditch the British monarchy. How feasible is it? (Global News)

December 2, 2021 Barbados just got rid of the Queen — should Canada follow suit? (CBC News)

New Winter 2022 Online Course at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies: Behind the Crown: The Monarchy from Victoria to Elizabeth II

Course Description: The year 2022 marks Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne. It’s an opportunity to look back on the social, political and cultural changes during her long reign. The personal lives of royalty are a popular subject for fiction in novels, films and TV series but the real history is more interesting. Each generation of royalty must respond to the challenges of their times to keep the monarchy relevant and engaged with public opinion. Join Carolyn Harris, historian, commentator and author of Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Royal Parenting for a lively discussion of the history, politics and cultural significance of the monarchy in the UK and Canada.

Click here for more information and to register.

CTV News Interview: The Queen's Health on Remembrance Sunday

Queen Elizabeth II did not attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in London on Sunday November 14. I discussed the Queen's health and the significance of Remembrance Sunday on the Queen's calendar of public engagements with CTV News. Watch the interview here:

November 14, 2021 Health Setbacks for the Queen (CTV News)

New Book Review in H-Russia: Succession to the Throne in Early Modern Russia: The Transfer of Power 1450-1725 by Paul Bushkovitch

I reviewed the new book Succession to the Throne in Early Modern Russia: The Transfer of Power 1450-1725 by Paul Bushkovitch for H-Russia

Click here to read Harris on Bushkovitch, ‘Succession to the Throne in Early Modern Russia: The Transfer of Power 1450-1725’ at H-Russia

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