Editing Saint Helena (section)

===1981 to present===
[[File:1984, Jamestown, St Helena Island. New Governor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|[[Francis Eustace Baker]], wearing full dress tropical uniform, is sworn in as Governor of Saint Helena in 1984.]]

The [[British Nationality Act 1981]] reclassified Saint Helena and the other [[crown colonies]] as [[British Dependent Territory|British Dependent Territories]].<ref name="A BRIEF HISTORY" /> For the next 20 years, many could find only low-paid work with the island government, and the only available employment outside Saint Helena was on the [[Falkland Islands]] and [[Ascension Island]]. The Development and Economic Planning Department (which still operates) was formed in 1988 to contribute to raising the living standards of the people of Saint Helena.

The Commission on Citizenship was established in 1992, restoring the islanders' rights including the right of abode. In 2002, the right to British citizenship was restored.<ref name="A BRIEF HISTORY" />

In 1989, [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York|Prince Andrew]] launched the replacement [[RMS St Helena (1989)|RMS ''St&nbsp;Helena'']] to serve the island; the vessel was specially built for the [[Cardiff]]–[[Cape Town]] route and featured a mixed cargo/passenger layout.

The Saint Helena Constitution took effect in 1989, and provided that the island would be governed by a governor, a commander-in-chief, and an elected executive and legislative council. In 2002, the [[British Overseas Territories Act 2002]] granted full British citizenship to the islanders and renamed the dependent territories (including Saint Helena) the British Overseas Territories. In 2009, [[The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009]] gave all three equal status; the British Overseas Territory was renamed [[Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tristandc.com/newsgovconsistution.php|title=Enhanced status and Bill of Rights in Tristan's new constitution|accessdate=18 March 2021}}</ref>

In 2021, a ministerial system was introduced in Saint Helena after UK's approval of a constitutional amendment.<ref>{{cite web |title=The St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution (Amendment) Order 2021 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/895/made |website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The New Ministerial System |url=https://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/2021/press-releases/the-new-ministerial-system/ |website=St Helena Government |date=18 August 2021 |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref>

In January 2024, [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh]] visited the island. "Prince Edward is the first royal trip to the island since [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]], the Princess Royal visited in 2002. Other royal guests include [[George VI|King George VI]], [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]], [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]], [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]] and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|The Queen Mother]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=Evie |date=2024-01-25 |title=Prince Edward sets sail for St Helena and reunites with a very old family friend |url=https://www.tatler.com/article/prince-edward-sets-sail-for-st-helena-and-reunites-with-a-very-old-family-friend |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Tatler |language=en-GB}}</ref> While there, he visited Jonathan, a 191-year old tortoise, confirmed by the [[Guinness World Records]] to be the oldest living land animal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Donoghue |first=Saskia |date=2024-03-21 |title=Love exploring less-travelled places? St Helena is an island paradise |url=https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/03/21/want-to-meet-jonathan-the-worlds-oldest-tortoise-st-helena-island-is-opening-up-to-tourist |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=[[Euronews]] |language=en}}</ref> He toured the island, met residents, ceremonially opened the island's [[Saint Helena Airport|airport]], and gave an address in the island's capital, Jamestown.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elston |first=Laura |date=2024-01-22 |title=Duke of Edinburgh to meet Jonathan the tortoise on remote South Atlantic island |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/st-helena-edinburgh-the-king-prince-edward-south-atlantic-b2482626.html |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>