Confirmed! This Country Parts Ways with the British Monarch

The new government of Antigua and Barbuda has been officially inaugurated with a new oath of office that no longer includes loyalty to the British King. This step signals a new chapter for the Caribbean island nation in defining its political identity.

During the inauguration held on Tuesday local time, cabinet members for the first time took the oath without mentioning King Charles III or the heirs of the British Crown. Instead, state officials now pledge allegiance solely to Antigua and Barbuda, its constitution, and its laws.

This change follows the approval of a constitutional amendment by the Antigua and Barbuda parliament at the end of last year. Nevertheless, the country retains its status as a constitutional monarchy under the British Commonwealth.

Antigua and Barbuda gained independence from Britain in 1981. However, until now, the British King has remained the symbolic head of state.

The inauguration of the new cabinet also took place shortly after Prime Minister Gaston Browne won the election for the fourth time in a row. This victory extends the dominance of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, which has been in power for over a decade.

Browne previously decided to bring forward the election schedule by nearly two years to obtain a new mandate amid global economic uncertainties. As a result, his party won decisively, securing 15 out of 17 parliamentary seats.

Although the oath of office has been changed, Antigua and Barbuda remains a member of the Commonwealth. The British King also retains his formal role as head of state.

Currently, 15 out of the total 56 Commonwealth countries still recognise the British King as their ruler. Barbados became the latest Caribbean nation to sever monarchical ties with Britain in 2021, yet it remains within the Commonwealth.

Debate over the future of the monarchy is also intensifying in Britain itself. The 2025 British Social Attitudes survey shows support for the royal institution has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1983.

In that survey, only 51% of respondents expressed support for the continuation of the British monarchy.