In central London, there is little local contrast to the party atmosphere that reigns on the streets of the capital. It presents an exhibition recounting the relations between the British monarchy and the 17th slave trade.e at 18e centuries.
We want the Queen to apologize for the wrongs caused by her ancestorslaunched Helen Atkins, a British activist from Jamaica.
These claims reflect statements heard during protests during an official visit by Prince William and his wife Kate to the Caribbean on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee.
In Jamaica, the prince declared himself deep sadness about this period of history without, however, offering an apology.
According to Helen Atkins, this resentment at the crown was not related to the desire of the inhabitants of certain countries to free themselves from the British monarchy.
” Barbados has accomplished this separation. In Jamaica, there is talk of being a republic. There is a lot of talk in the Caribbean today. “
Director of history and policy at the Institute for Historical Research in London, Philip Murphy pointed out that Barbados ’decision to remove itself from the monarchy in 2021 put pressure on the leaders of other Caribbean countries that had made statements about the idea of becoming republics but did nothing to achieve it.
According to this expert, if the attachment to the monarchy remains very strong, even beyond the figure of the queen, in the United Kingdom, the picture is different in other countries that still have a British monarch as head of State.
” I think there is a growing gap between how the monarchy is viewed in the UK and how it is viewed elsewhere in the world. “
And in Canada?
If Canada’s context is very different from the context of Caribbean countries, questions also arise about the future links the country will maintain in the British crown.
An Angus Reid poll published in April suggested that while 58% of Canadians favor attachment to the monarchy, 51% also think the country should distance itself over the next few decades.
So, while 63% of those polled have a favorable opinion about Queen Elizabeth II, only 29% say they favor her heir, Prince Charles, who recently visited Canada.
Bernadette Christie, an Albertan who traveled to London to attend the celebrations surrounding the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, fears that Canada’s relationship with the crown will crumble when the change to the British throne comes.
” Young people don’t know what royalty is. There is distance, no doubt. “
I think a few countries in the Commonwealth will come out. They will stay there politely until the very end [du règne d’Élisabeth II]he added.
It is noteworthy that this system lasted a very long timesaid Philip Murphy, of the Institute for Historical Research in London, who however recalled that it would take more than a favorable opinion for a country like Canada to break its relationship with the monarchy.
One factor reinforced this system: it was difficult for the constitution to change ithe explains.
Under the Canadian Constitution, a change of this size to the head of state would require the approval of the House of Commons, the Senate and the legislatures of each province.
On the other side of the world, Australia held a referendum in 1999 on the idea of becoming a republic. The option to maintain ties with the British monarchy won nearly 55% of the vote.
However, the file has not been closed and has recently been in the news. After the election that took place two weeks ago, the new Labor government in Canberra appointed a minister responsible for the transition to a republic.
Source: Radio-Canada
