Commonwealth nation replaces royal image with national heroes
King Charles III has suffered a significant setback as Belize officially removes the British monarch from its currency, signalling a shift away from its colonial past.
The new banknotes, unveiled by Prime Minister John Briceño, will replace Queen Elizabeth II’s image with portraits of George Price, the country’s first Prime Minister, and Philip Goldson, a prominent anti-colonial activist.
Briceño announced the change on Thursday, emphasising that the move reflects Belize’s national identity rather than political ties to Britain.
“We have been using our two national heroes, George Price and Philip Goldson, and we have them in different denominations—it is something Belizeans will accept, and it is our people on our note,” the Prime Minister stated.
He further clarified that the decision was not tied to the country's currency stability, saying, “The Queen is dead, and that has nothing to do with the Belize dollar; it is based on our economy and the amount of US reserves.”
The change comes as King Charles continues his efforts to strengthen ties within the Commonwealth, even while battling cancer. However, the move by Belize underscores the growing momentum towards independence among some Commonwealth nations, raising further questions about the monarchy’s long-term influence.
