News Americas, New York, NY, September 9, 2024: As the Caribbean continues to grapple with its colonial history, Visible crown the project will play a key role in shaping the region’s future relationship with the British monarchy in a post-colonial world.
Protesters against royalty in the Caribbean.
British taxpayers have contributed £825,000 to the comprehensive study, UK media reports show, which will examine the monarchy’s impact on the Caribbean, sparking further debate over the region’s identity and its ties to the British Crown. . The project, funded by the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), explores the political and cultural significance of Queen Elizabeth II and the British monarchy in the Caribbean from 1952 to the present day.
The research comes at a critical time as Caribbean nations increasingly reassess their ties to the monarchy, with growing calls for reparations and the removal of royal influence. The project aims to provide a deeper insight into the Caribbean’s evolving relationship with the monarchy, particularly in light of recent royal visits that have sparked protests demanding an account of Britain’s colonial past.
With countries like Barbados transitioning to republics, Visible crown seeks to understand why some Caribbean nations, such as Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Saint Lucia, retain ties to the monarchy while others pursue independence. The study will focus on the eight Caribbean realms where King Charles III remains head of state and will also examine why Commonwealth nations such as Guyana, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago became republics.
Professor Anna Whitelock, a historian of the monarchy and a leading scholar, has been outspoken about the need for the monarchy to modernize and reckon with its colonial legacy. Her research will shed light on how the monarchy is perceived in the Caribbean today and how its legacy has impacted the region.
As movements across the Caribbean call for a final break with the monarchy and demand reparations for colonial-era atrocities, Visible crown is expected to contribute valuable knowledge for the future of the region. Royal visits in recent years have increasingly faced backlash from activists who criticize the monarchy’s role in colonial oppression.
Despite criticism from some British figures over the use of taxpayer funds, researchers argue that the project is crucial to understanding the political landscape of the Caribbean and its continued association with the monarchy. Findings from Visible crown could help shape how the Caribbean navigates its future and whether it moves towards full independence from Britain.
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