The Queen is no longer the head of state on Barbados, almost 400 years ago, when she was named for King James I, her ancestor.

It is more than 50 decades since it was fully independent in 1966.

In Barbados, Prince Philip and Her Majesty were met by enthusiastic crowds when they arrived in Bridgetown to begin a five-week Caribbean tour.

However, the monarch was removed from power by Barbadians despite her popularity.

Prince Charles arrived in Barbados last night ahead of an historic ceremony that will take his mother’s symbolic power away before the current Governor-General, Dame Sandra Mason, is insealed tomorrow as the nation’s first President.

This ceremony follows the last-year decision by Ms Mason that it was time to completely leave behind our colonial past.

Today, nearly 400 years after Barbados was claimed for her ancestor King James I by an English ship, the Queen's role as head of state of the island comes to an end. Above: The Queen in Barbados during her five-week tour of the Caribbean in 1966

Nearly 400 years later, Barbados was claimed by the English Ship King James I. Today the Queen has stepped down as the Head of State of Barbados. Above: In Barbados, the Queen during her 5-week Caribbean trip in 1966.

The move by the nation's politicians to turn it into a republic comes more than 50 years after it became a fully independent nation in 1966. Above: The Queen in Barbados that year

The Queen in Barbados during her Silver Jubilee tour in 1977

More than 50 years ago, the nation became a sovereign nation. As they arrived in Bridgetown (Babados’ capital), for a five-week Caribbean tour, Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip were met by enthusiastic crowds. Right: Queen Elizabeth II in Barbados on her Silver Jubilee tour 1977

However, in recent years Barbados has embraced a reported $490million in funding from China for new developments – although any suggestions that this relationship may create its own problems have been dismissed by the country’s prime minister, Mia Amor Mottley.

Barbados’s move to remove the Queen as its head of state comes nearly 30 years after the last nation to do so – the island of Mauritius – in 1992.

When English sailors settled on Barbados in 1627, it became Britain’s second colony – after Virginia had been founded in North America.

Since that time, nearly half of the surface and people in the world has been covered by the British Empire.

Barbados’s own parliament – which was modelled on that of its colonial master back in England – was established in 1639, making it the third oldest in the entire Commonwealth.

In the decades that followed, hundreds of West African slaves were sent to the island for work in sugar plantations.

Prince Charles last night landed in Barbados ahead of the historic ceremony which will remove his mother's symbolic power before current Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason is sworn in tomorrow as the country's first president

Prince Charles arrived in Barbados last night ahead of an historic ceremony that will take his mother’s symbolic power away before the current Governor-General, Dame Sandra Mason, is insealed tomorrow as the nation’s first President

Queen Elizabeth ll is greeted by the public during a walkabout in Barbados on November 01, 1977 in Barbados

Queen Elizabeth ll greets the Barbados public at a walkabout on November 1, 1977.

Prince Charles arrives at Barbados to witness the ceremony that will see his mother become head of state. 

Prince Charles was greeted by Barbados’ Queen before a historic ceremony that removed his mother, Princess Elizabeth, as the head of state. 

The Caribbean island will become the world’s newest republic as it swears in its first president, Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason, on Tuesday – the anniversary of its independence from Britain in 1966.

British MPs warn that Chinese pressure could be fueling a push to have Barbados’ Queen removed as the head of state. Beijing has contributed at least $490million to the island’s tourist industry over recent years. The loans are even higher. The money has forced Dame Sandra to deny China is the driving force behind ending 400 years of loyalty to the British crown since King James I.

Scott Furssedonn, Britain’s High Commissioner to Barbados welcomed the heir apparent to the throne to his arrival in the Caribbean aboard the ministerial Jet Voyager on Sunday night.

Mia Motley (Barbarian prime minister) and other military leaders were part of a red carpet that was laid out and introduced to the prince. The prince was also welcomed by a Guard of Honour as well as a military band. A 21 gun salute filled the Grantley Adams International Airport in deafening to celebrate his arrival.

The Prince of Wales, in a speech just after midnight tonight in Barbados will speak out about the common goals and lasting bonds that exist between Barbados (and the UK) during the ceremony to mark the transition from a colony to a republic. After the Royal Standard is lowered, the Presidential Standard (flag pole) will replace it.

The Prince was at the Handover of Hong Kong to China 1997, and also represented Queen Elizabeth when Zimbabwe became independent in 1980.  

Between 1627 and 1807, 387,000 Africans were forced to go to the island. The country’s population shifted from a predominantly white group of settlers to one that was dominated by blacks.

Slavery was abolished by the British Government on August 28, 1833. Slaves in the British Empire including Barbados were granted freedom.

When the island became independent in 1966 – after the island was granted internal autonomy in 1961 – the Queen continued as head of state, this time at the helm of the separate monarchy of Barbados.

In 1977 Her Majesty’s first return to Barbados was after she had visited that country. She then embarked on Concorde on her first journey back home.

These visits didn’t stop the wish of many Barbadians, including politicians, to end formal ties with England.

Although the idea was initially considered in 1970s, it was rejected by enough support from the public.

In 1998, the next significant milestone was reached when a Barbados Constitution Review Commission recommended republican status.

In 2003, the country decided to replace the London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, with the Caribbean Court of Justice. This court is situated in Trinidad and Tobago’s Port of Spain.

2005 saw the passage of legislation that would allow for the referendum on republican shift, but it never happened.

Premier Minister Freundel Stuart stated in 2015 that “we must move from a monarchical system to republican forms of government within the very near future”.

Over the past two decades, republicanism has grown in popularity due to the Black Lives Matter protest movement and renewed interest in the horrific history of slave trading as well as Britain’s terrible handling of the Windrush scandal.

This month, however, the shift from Britain’s monarchy was pushed through PM Ms Mottley. It has also been approved by parliament where Labour controls 29 of the 30 seats.

Some politicians oppose the idea. Verla De Peiza (50), the leader of the Democratic Labour Party in the country, said to Robert Hardman of the Daily Mail: “A referendum would be great, or at least some form of proper consultation.

We were promised an electoral council to debate a new constitution. Nothing of this sort has been found.

Ronnie Yearwood 42, who is a University of the West Indies law lecturer, stated that there was not enough support for the idea.

Queen Elizabeth II of England, left, and Prince Philip, right, are entertained by the Earl and Countess of Avon, at their house, Villa Nova, in Barbados, West Indies, February 15th 1966

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, both from England, are being entertained at Villa Nova in Barbados by the Earl and Comtess of Avon on February 15, 1966

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is warmly welcomed by the crowds outside the Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown, Barbados, on February 24, 1975

On February 24, 1975, the masses in Bridgetown, Barbados welcomed Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.

“But, if you criticize this process or request a referendum, you will be accused of being antirepublican.

The government said that it would “look at Brexit” as though it were a terrible thing when people had their say. Although it could have been an amazing moment, this feeling is very hollow.

Since the decision by Mauritius to become a republic, three other nations have held votes on the subject – Australia in 1999, the Pacific state of Tuvalu in 2008 and Barbados’s Caribbean neighbour St Vincent & the Grenadines in 2009.

The people chose to retain the Queen head of state on each occasion, regardless of political pressure.

Ms Mottley’s decision to declare Barbados republic will not affect its status as a major part of the Commonwealth that is led by the Queen.

Barbados’ Colonial History 

Barbados was the second-oldest English settlement in the West Indies after Saint Kitts. 

The countries’ historical ties date back to the 17th century and involve settlement, post-colonialism and modern bilateral relations. 

Barbados has enjoyed close relations with other Commonwealth nations since its independence in 1966. The Queen is the monarch. 

The Barbadian Parliament is the third oldest in the entire Commonwealth and the island continues to practice the Westminster style of government.

An English influence can be found in many Anglican churches and plantation house on the island. 

Jamestown, which is located near today’s Holetown, was founded by 80 Englishmen who landed aboard the William and John in 1627.

Early settlers had difficulty developing a profitable export crop, and they also faced problems maintaining supply from Europe.

However, The Sugar Revolution was highly profitable. In the 1640s, sugar coulde was introduced from Dutch Brazil. Over the next ten-years, more than two-thirds of English emigres in America went to Barbados. 

The Sugar Revolution, the introduction of sugar cane from Dutch Brazil, in the 1640s was highly lucrative but came at great social cost

Sugar Revolution: The introduction of sugarcane from Dutch Brazil in 1640s was extremely lucrative, but it also came at a great social price 

This shift towards sugar produced huge profit, but it was also very costly for the community. Many thousands of West African slaves were sent across the Atlantic to labor in the sugar plantations. Workers suffered low wages and very limited social services. 

The country’s population shifted from a predominantly white to majority black group between 1627 and 1807. 

The British government passed the Slavery Abolition Act on 28 August 1833. Slave owners across Britain were then granted emancipation. 

Barbados remained a British colony until internal autonomy was granted in 1961. 

On November 30, 1966, the nation became independent. This was at a time in which its economy was growing and diversifying. 

The Barbadian Parliament, which was established in 1991, has been a constitution monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. It is closely related to the British Westminster system. 

In 2008, British exports to Barbados stood at £38 million, making it Britain’s fourth-largest export market in the region.  

In recent years a growing number of British nationals have been relocating to Barbados to live, with polls showing that British nationals make up 75–85 per cent of the Barbados second home market.