On 6 February, the Queen became the first monarch to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee which marked 70 glorious years on the throne. Not only did she spend the last seven decades as the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, but also that of 14 other countries that are part of the Commonwealth—including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Jamaica.
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According to the royal institution, the Queen’s position as Head of State is a ‘symbolic and unifying role’ that ‘reinforces the links by which the Commonwealth joins people together from around the world.’ Part of her duties include royal visits to the countries, attending events, coordinating activities, and having meetings with the Head of Governments.
However, ever since Barbados became a republic and removed their Queen as Head of State, other political parties within several of these countries have been debating whether or not they should follow suit.
⋙ Read more: Queen sends a heartfelt message to the new head of state in Barbados
Replacing the Queen
Most recently, The Guardian reported that a Māori party in New Zealand wanted the island country to part ways with the crown and ‘remove the Queen as New Zealand’s head of state.’ The party’s leader Rawiri Waititi said:
If you look at our founding covenant as a marriage between tangata whenua [indigenous people] and the crown, then Te Tiriti is the child of that marriage. It’s time [for] tangata whenua to take full custody.
This won’t mean the crown is off the hook. If a couple gets divorced, you don’t lose responsibility for your child. This will be an opportunity to reimagine a more meaningful and fulfilling partnership.
Read more:
⋙ Jacinda Ardern: Who is her fiancé, Clarke Gayford?
⋙ Prince Charles paid tribute to his ‘darling wife’ as Camilla will become the Queen
Republic movement
This is not the only party that is looking to replace the Queen as head of state. Earlier this month, Australia’s republican party claimed that they were devising a plan called ‘Australian Choice’ to completely change the way the Head of State is elected in the country. Head of the Australian Republic Movement Peter FitzSimons said that they should be chosen by local, state, and federal parliaments, and the nominations should be based on merit.
⋙ Read more: The Queen: Australia's Republican Party looking to remove the Queen as Head of State
New Zealand and Australia, like the other countries who have the Queen as their Head of State, are constitutional monarchies who are currently undergoing republican movements of their own. If the parties who are driving the reform are successful, the British monarchy could soon lose their position as Head of State as a consequence.
