Nearly 400 years after the the first English ship arrived in Barbados, the former British colony, will after next week, no longer recognize Queen Elizabeth as head of state. The birth of the new republic, will occur 55 years to the day since Barbados declared independence.

Barbados will remain a republic within the Commonwealth, a group of 54 countries, that include Canada.

Originally populated by waves of Saladoid-Barrancoid and Kalinago migrants, Spanish slaver raids forced Amerindians to flee. Barbados was unpopulated when the English first arrived.

Over the next few hundred years African slaves were brought to Barbados to work in cotton, indigo, sugar and tobacco plantations. Slavery was ended in 1838 and Barbados gained independence in 1966.

The queen has made many visits to Barbados and, according to Buckingham Palace, has had “a unique relationship with this, the most easterly of the Caribbean islands”.

The republic of Barbados will be declared at a ceremony which begins late in the evening on Monday, Nov. 29 at the National Heroes Square in Bridgetown.

Prince Charles, the 73-year-old heir to the British throne, will travel to Barbados for the ceremonies.

“The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind,” Prime Minister Mia Mottley said in a 2020 speech prepared for Governor General Sandra Mason, who will replace the Queen as Barbados’ head of state after being elected president.

“This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving.”