Guest editorial introduction : The epoch of Queen Elizabeth II : continuity and rupture in small states and territories

Abstract

The death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 after 70 years on the throne and the ascent of King Charles III precipitated much discussion about the role and relevancy of the British Monarch across the Commonwealth and more particularly whether it was time for those countries who still retained the Monarch as their head of state to move to a republican system. Change is likely, but it may well happen more slowly than commentators first thought. Indeed, the extent of influence and authority of the Crown remains significant, none more so than in the United Kingdom’s Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. This guest editorial introduction offers an overview of the legacy of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, the challenges facing her successor and, despite broad public debates about how decolonisation can be completed, illustrates that it is far too early in many places to dismiss or discard the continuing role of the Crown.