Lowering Queen Elizabeth's Flag, Barbados Becomes World's Newest Republic
NDTV
Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, will attend the "Pride of Nationhood" ceremony, which is set to include military parades, a mounted guard of honor, gun salutes, dances and fireworks.
The Caribbean island nation of Barbados will on Monday night sever centuries-old ties to the British monarchy, ditching Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and declaring itself the world's newest republic.
The royal Standard flag that represents the queen will be lowered in the capital Bridgetown and -- at midnight (0400 GMT) -- the current governor general, Sandra Mason, will be inaugurated as the first president.
Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, will attend the "Pride of Nationhood" ceremony, which is set to include military parades, a mounted guard of honor, gun salutes, dances and fireworks.
The new era for Barbados has fueled debate among the population of 285,000 over colonialism and Britain's centuries of influence, including more than 200 years of slavery until 1834.
