Grenada changes Oath of Allegiance to the State, ending swearing to King Charles III

Effective August 1, 2025, Grenada has officially changed the Oath of Allegiance and Affirmation of Allegiance taken by State officials to the nation itself, replacing the previous requirement to swear allegiance to King Charles III, his heirs, and successors.

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Governor-General Dame Cecile La Grenade recently gave formal assent to two constitutional amendments—The Constitution (Oath of Allegiance (Amendment) (No. 1) Act, 2025 and The Constitution (Oath of Allegiance) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2025—approved by both Houses of Parliament on July 24 and 25. The legislation mandates that all State officials must retake their oaths to Grenada within 12 hours of August 1 or within seven days thereafter.

The Government Gazette published the Governor-General’s assent on July 31, notifying that copies of the new Acts are available at public offices, including the Treasury, Public Library, Post Offices, District Revenue Offices, and Police Stations.

Despite the swift legislative approval, the changes drew opposition from a non-governmental organization, Independent Caucus for Constitution Reform (ICCR), which urged the Governor-General to withhold assent. In a letter dated July 27, ICCR warned that the bills undermine fundamental constitutional principles and pose risks to democratic checks and balances, stressing the Governor-General’s role as a guardian of constitutional integrity.

The shift in allegiance was championed by another civil society group, Citizens for Constitution Reform (CCR), led by Dr. Francis Alexis—a former Attorney General and government minister. Launched publicly in May 2024, CCR’s primary aim was to eliminate allegiance to the British monarchy in favor of loyalty to Grenada itself. “There should no longer be allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III, his heirs and successors, but instead to the land of our birth, our citizenship in which we are domiciled—Grenada,” Dr. Alexis said at the time.

CCR’s directors include notable figures such as Ruggles Ferguson, Anande Trotman, Jerry Edwin, Ewart Layne, and Dr. Wendy Grenade. As of now, the group has not commented publicly on the successful passage of the Oath amendments or disclosed its next steps regarding broader constitutional reform.