There are six symbols of monarchy – Royal warrants, coat of arms, stamps, coins and banknotes, crown jewels and the royal standard, but there are also visual and verbal identifiers to the monarchy.
When Barbados was a British colony, there were symbols of the monarchy in the political, financial and legal systems, and many remain today.
Barbados Flag Under Colonialism
The flag which represented Barbados as a colony featured a blue ensign with Neptune and it was used until 1958.
Barbados is a constitutional monarchy as it has a Governor-General. He or she is appointed by The Queen of England on the advice of the Prime Minister.
When the island becomes a parliamentary republic, the signs and symbols associated with government, security and military organisations will be changed.
Many Barbadians may not be aware of these symbols of the monarchy, but they are prominent with the use of the word “royal” and the inclusion of crowns on emblems and insignia. The Crown, which represents the sovereign source of governmental authority, also represents the British monarchy.
Governor General’s Flag
Her Excellency, Dame Sandra Mason is the most important person of the Barbados government due to her position as Governor-General of Barbados. She is the representative of the monarch.
As a distinguished government figure and royal representative, she has a flag that shows not one but two crowns and a lion, all symbolic of the British monarchy.
Insignia of Security and Military Forces
The island’s main security forces is called the Royal Barbados Police Force. The regal position is solidified by the organisation’s insignia that displays a crown over the design. It has been incorporated into badges, decals and other brand identifiers.
Similarly, the Barbados Defence Force, Barbados Coast Guard, the Barbados Regiment all have badges and branding which includes the crown.
The Mace
The Mace in Barbados Parliament was a symbol of authority, “granted by or exercised on behalf of the King or Queen, under a royal warrant including or covering such matters as the collection of taxes” (Barbados Parliament). It was originally used as a weapon against reluctant taxpayers. A shorter version was carried by a Sergeant-at-Arms or soldiers on the battlefield. The Mace has been used in Barbados Parliament since 1810. This island is one of the few territories which continues to keep the tradition of using a Mace in parliament.
“The Mace is carried by the Sargeant-at-Arms [sic] (in Barbados by the Marshal) before the Speaker for the opening and conclusion of each sitting. When the House is in session and when a sitting is suspended, the Mace is placed in a cradle on the Clerk’s Table with the orb and cross towards the Government who always sit to the right of a Speaker’s Chair in the Commonwealth. When the House is in Committee of the Whole House, and also before the election of a Speaker, the Mace is placed on brackets below the Clerk’s Table.
When the House attends the Senate Chamber for a sitting of Parliament (Head of State, Senate and House of Assembly) the Mace is carried before the Speaker and members of the House, who proceed in order of seniority of membership, and it should be left outside the Senate Chamber covered until the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly leave the Chamber.”
The Mace in the House of Assembly
The Royal Cypher and Her Majesty’s Flag for Barbados (Royal Standard of Barbados)
The Royal Cypher is a combination of the monarch’s initials and titles. It can be a single initial or a monogram. With the British Queen Elizabeth, her royal cypher has EIIR cypher which stands for ‘Elizabeth II Regina’. It was not until the reign of Henry VIII that ‘R’ (which stands for Latin King or Queen, Rex or Regina) was added to a monarch’s cypher.
The Queen also has a special flag for the country that she is visiting. Her Majesty’s Flag for Barbados features her Royal Cypher and pride of Barbados flowers and bearded fig tree.
Verbal and Visual Identifiers of Monarchy
Barbadians will recognise that some professionals within the legal system have unique titles like Queen’s Counsel.
The Queen’s Counsel or QC is an office recognised by the courts and conferred by the Crown. The title can change to King’s Counsel when the monarch is male. A Queen’s Counsel is known as an “advocate appointed by the monarch to be one of Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law”.
There are also nobility titles like Sir and Dame for those with knighthood or damehood. Their official titles are Knight or Dame of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE). The titles of Lady and Mr are for the spouse of these prominent individuals.
The Justice of The Peace or JP is a title derived during the reign of King Edward III in 1361. Before this, there was the “King’s peace” which was a knight who was appointed by the King and a government minister to be the “keeper of the peace”.
In the past, JPs were members of the gentry and they conducted arraignments in all criminal cases, tried misdemeanours and infractions. It was not until 1919 that women were allowed to be JPs in the United Kingdom.
Today, a Justice of the Peace is a person who is a citizen of Barbados with a high standard of integrity and chosen under the discretion of the Governor-General. They are allowed to sign and certify the validity of copies of official documents among other duties.
United Kingdom Honours Systems
In the United Kingdom, citizens can receive special honours from the Queen for their outstanding work in their community or industry.
The Governor-General Of Barbados can present special awards like the Companion of Honour to people who contributed to arts, science, medicine or the government over a long time. The other honours include but are not limited to CBE-Commander of the Order of the British Empire (highest rank), OBE-Officer of the Order of the British Empire (second-highest rank), MBE- Member of the Order of the British Empire (third highest rank).
For the general public, they are expected to address specific public officials or distinguished members by their titles. For example, the Companion of Honour of Barbados (CHB) is greeted as the Honourable, this includes members of the Cabinet, Privy Council and judges. Former Prime Ministers who are members of the Privy Council should be addressed as Right Honourable and accredited ambassadors and high commissioners saluted as His or Her Excellency.
