The title Queen’s Counsel will no longer be used in reference to attorneys and all court proceedings usually issued in the name of The Queen/Regina must be issued in the name of The King/Rex going forward.
Jamaica’s Chief Justice Bryan Sykes also gave notice on Thursday that all oaths and court documents referring to The Queen/Regina must now refer to The King/Rex. Staff at the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal has since been advised of these changes which took immediate effect.
The changes became necessary following the death of Queen Elizabeth ll on Thursday and the ascension of her eldest son Charles to King. Senior attorneys in Jamaica will now be called Kings Counsel.
Jamaica is not exempt from some of the sweeping changes that have started to take effect in the UK and other Commonwealth countries. In the UK, the words of the national anthem will have to be updated and so too will the currency, stamps, passports and even the uniform worn by the police.
The UK’s period of mourning is expected to last for 10 days. Flags across Government buildings will be flying at half mast, and will remain half-masted until 8 am on the morning after the final day of royal mourning.
The Government of Jamaica has also announced that all flags on public buildings should be flown at half-mast to mark the commencement of a period of mourning from September 8 to September 19, 2022.
“A Day of Mourning will be observed on September 18, 2022. During the Period of Mourning, it is the customary recommendation that no celebratory activities should take place. On the Day of Mourning, the public should note that only authorized activities related to the Day are approved and that all social events should be postponed,” the government said in a statement.
Queen Elizabeth, UK’s longest serving monarch, died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She was 96.