Newest republic

The youngest republic is the island nation of Barbados, which, on 30 November 2021, officially removed the UK's Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and became a unitary republic. At the stroke of midnight, a 21-gun salute in the capital, Bridgetown, signalled the handover to the country's first president and new head of state, Dame Sandra Mason, although Prime Minister Mia Mottley retains power as head of the government.

Barbados was granted full independence in 1955, but the Queen had remained in a ceremonial role. The lowering of the royal standard finally marked the end of nearly 400 years of colonial control over the Caribbean island, which is populated with c.287,000 people, the majority of whom are descendants of African slaves brought to farm sugarcane on British-owned plantations.

The Queen was represented at the handover by Prince Charles, who conveyed his mother's "warmest good wishes". "The creation of this republic offers a new beginning," he said. "From the darkest days of our past and the appalling atrocity of slavery which forever stains our history, people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude."

At the ceremony, Dame Sandra Prunella Mason - the country's former (and last) governor-general - officially took office as president of Barbados and commander-in-chief of the Barbados Defence Force. The post is largely a ceremonial one, with Dame Sandra expected to exercise power on the advice of the prime minister and her cabinet.

As part of the festivities, prime minister Mottley also declared the Barbadian singer Rihanna a national hero.