Grenada government and opposition join forces to drop oath of allegiance to King Charles
The government and opposition parties in Grenada have come together in a rare display of unity to amend the country's constitution and remove the oath of allegiance to HM King Charles III. The parliament agreed to replace the reference to "His Majesty King Charles the Third, His Heirs and Successors" with "Grenada," reflecting the nation’s desire to affirm its sovereignty.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell highlighted the significance of the move, stating that allegiance should belong to the people of Grenada rather than a foreign monarch. “What is it about King Charles that is superior to me?” Mitchell questioned, emphasizing that sovereign nations can maintain diplomatic relations without pledging allegiance to another country's head of state.
The decision follows growing calls from Grenadian society to decolonize national symbols and reform institutions still bearing colonial legacies, such as the royal police force and the royal prison.
The move also coincides with renewed demands for reparations linked to slavery. Recent research revealed that King George IV profited from slavery in Grenada, intensifying public and political pressure to sever ties with the British monarchy and move toward republicanism.
Governor-General Dame Cécile La Grenade formally approved the constitutional amendments, signaling an official step towards redefining Grenada's national identity.
