Ambassador to USA Queen Elizabeth Will No Longer Be Head of

abeth Will No ead of State in Next Year il Bouher

Rihanna and Prince Harry attend the 'Man Aware' event held by the Barbados National HIV/AIDS Commission in 2016. CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY

eets singer Lionel Ritchie at a Prince's e Coral Reef Club Hotel on March 19, RIS JACKSON/GETTY

reference to this tour during his own December 2016 visit to the island, which coincided with celebrations for the 50th anniversary of its independence and saw him take an HIV fi nger prick test with Barbados native Rihanna.

The Duke of Sussex also visited the country in February 2001 to play a benefi t polo game for his Sentebale charity, which helps underprivileged youngsters in Lesotho, Africa. "Your independence was a declaration of confi dence in the future,” Harry added in his 2016 speech. “And 50 years on Barbados is a country rightfully proud of its vibrant culture, its sporting prowess and its natural beauty.”

More recently, Prince Charles visited the island in March 2019, where he offi cially named singer Lionel Richie as an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust International. "It must have been you I was looking for," Charles reportedly told the singer, in reference to Richie’s 1983 hit "Hello." "Oh, did you just say that?” Richie replied, pretending to be shocked. "He did say that."

"Barbados has developed governance structures and institutions that mark us as what has been described as 'the best governed Black society in the world.'" governor-general Mason added in Wednesday's speech. "Since Independence, we Barbadians have sought constantly to improve our systems of law and governance so as to ensure they best refl ect our characteristics and values as a nation."

She continued, "Barbados’ fi rst prime minister, the Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, cautioned against loitering on colonial premises. That warning is as relevant today as it was in 1966. Having attained Independence over half a century ago, our country can be in no doubt about its capacity for selfgovernance." www.travelandleisure.com/syndication/queenelizabeth-removed-barbados-head-of-state Image credit: newsamericasnow.com, Parade, smoothradio.com