Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic

At midnight, Barbados severed his last remaining ties to the British monarchy after nearly 400 years. People gather near National Heroes Square in the capital Bridgetown for official festivities marking the island’s historic transition from kingdom Republic. Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, had come from London to attend the event.

Barbados’ decision marks the first time in nearly three decades that a kingdom has chosen to remove the British monarch as head of state. The last country to do this was the island of Mauritius in 1992.