Monarchy of Grenada

The Balfour Declaration of 1926 provided the Dominions the right to be considered equal to Britain, rather than subordinate; an agreement that had the result of, in theory, a shared Crown that operates independently in each realm, rather than a unitary British Crown under which all the Dominions were secondary. The monarchy thus ceased to be an exclusively British institution, although it has often been called "British" since this time, in both legal and common language, for reasons historical, legal, and of convenience.[4] The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 was the first indication of this shift in law, further elaborated in the Statute of Westminster 1931.

Under the Statute of Westminster, Grenada has a common monarchy with Britain and the other Commonwealth realms and, though laws governing the line of succession to the Grenadian throne lie within the control of the Grenadian Parliament, Grenada cannot change the rules of succession without the unanimous consent of the other realms, unless explicitly leaving the shared monarchy relationship by means of a constitutional amendment. This situation applies symmetrically in all the other realms, including the UK.

On all matters of the Grenadian state, the monarch is advised solely by Grenadian ministers.[5]

In Grenada, the King's official title is Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Grenada and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[6]

This style communicates Grenada's status as an independent monarchy, highlighting the monarch's role specifically as King of Grenada, as well as the shared aspect of the Crown throughout the realms. Typically, the sovereign is styled King of Grenada and is addressed as such when in Grenada, or performing duties on behalf of Grenada abroad.

Most of the King's domestic duties are performed by the governor-general.[5] The governor-general represents the King on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of Parliament, the presentation of honours, and military parades. Under the constitution, he is given authority to act in some matters; for example, in appointing and disciplining officers of the civil service and in proroguing Parliament. The powers that are constitutionally his are exercised almost wholly upon the advice of the Cabinet, made up of ministers of the Crown. As in the other Commonwealth realms, however, the monarch's role, and thereby the viceroy's role, is almost entirely symbolic and cultural, acting as a symbol of the legal authority under which all governments operate. It has been said since the death of Queen Anne in 1714, the last monarch to head the British Cabinet, that the monarch "reigns" but does not "rule". In exceptional circumstances, however, the monarch or viceroy can act against such advice based upon his or her reserve powers.

There are also a few duties which must be specifically performed by, or bills that require assent by the King. These include: signing the appointment papers of the governor-general, the confirmation of awards of honours, and approving any change in his title.

It is also possible that if the governor-general decided to go against the prime minister's or the government's advice, the prime minister could appeal directly to the monarch, or even recommend that the monarch dismiss the governor-general.

William, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent to the Grenadian throne.

In 2011, Grenada, along with the other Commonwealth prime ministers agreed in the Perth Agreement to amend the rules on the succession to their respective Crowns so that absolute primogeniture would apply for persons born after the date of the agreement (26 March 2015), instead of male-preference primogeniture, and the ban on marriages to Roman Catholics would be lifted, but the monarch would still need to be in communion with the Church of England.

Succession to the throne is by absolute primogeniture and governed by the provisions of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, as well as the Act of Settlement and the English Bill of Rights. These documents, though originally passed by the Parliament of England, are now part of the Grenadian constitutional law, under control of the Grenadian Parliament only.

This legislation lays out the rules that the monarch cannot be a Roman Catholic, nor married to one, and must be in communion with the Church of England upon ascending the throne. As Grenada's laws governing succession are currently identical to those of the United Kingdom (by the Statute of Westminster) see Succession to the British Throne for more information.

The heir apparent is Charles III's eldest son, Prince William, who has no official title outside of the UK, but is accorded his UK title, Prince of Wales, as a courtesy title.

Sir Paul Scoon in 1983

When Maurice Bishop and the New Jewel Movement seized power in a coup d'état and established the People's Revolutionary Government on 13 March 1979, Queen Elizabeth II was retained as head of state in an attempt to give an air of legitimacy to the administration. The Governor-General, Paul Scoon, was also kept in office as the Queen's representative. After the United States invaded Grenada on 25 October 1983, the Prime Minister of Dominica, Eugenia Charles, claimed Scoon had requested the military intervention by way of a meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. It was confirmed that Scoon had been in contact with the Queen ahead of the invasion; however, the Queen's office denied knowledge of any request for military action and the Queen was "extremely upset" by the invasion of one of her realms. The only document signed by the Governor-General and asking for military assistance was dated after the invasion, which fuelled speculation that the United States had used Scoon as an excuse for its incursion into Grenada. Scoon, in his memoir, published in 2003, clarified that he had asked other Caribbean governments for the intervention of an allied military force.[9]

Following the invasion the Governor-General, in the absence of a parliament and elected government, assumed executive and legislative powers. Nicholas Brathwaite was appointed Chairman of an Interim Advisory Council, ahead of elections a year later in 1984. This constitutes one of the few times in Commonwealth history that the Crown has been the active and dominant executive authority in a realm.