Commonwealth nations leaders around the world praised the dignity of Queen Elizabeth II.which will go down in the annals of world history” and “will leave a big void‘, after his death on Thursday at the age of 96.

Upon accession to the throne in 1952, the Queen took over as head of the Commonwealth, a group of former British Empire territories spanning five continents. Elizabeth II becomes queen of seven states: Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon (later Sri Lanka). She finds herself as the de facto head of state of other territories linked to the United Kingdom, such as the islands of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. As other territories gain their independence from the United Kingdom, the number of states it governs increases as some – although now constituted as a different political entity – choose to remain associated with the sovereign. At the height of her reign, Elizabeth II was simultaneously Queen of 18 countries. Since then Fiji (1987), Mauritius (1992) and Barbados (2021) have become republics.

At her death, the queen was still considered the head of state of 15 kingdoms, namely: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and the United Kingdom. Apart from the latter, it is represented in every country by a governor-general – a viceroy who acts as head of state. As Queen of New Zealand, she is also ruler of the Cook Islands and Niue. The UK also has 14 overseas territories including Bermuda, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and the British Antarctic Territory.

During his reign, eight referendums were held on the possibility of withdrawing from the Crown, three of which ended in a victory for the Yes, first in Ghana (1960) and South Africa (1960), then in The Gambia (1970). The latter initially rejected this option in 1965. Tuvalu (1986 and 2008), Australia (1999) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2009) also refused to become republics when offered the choice.

Among the shortest reigns of Elizabeth II are those in Kenya, Tanganyika (now most of Tanzania) and Uganda, each lasting exactly one year between independence from the United Kingdom and their republic.

Charles III, Head of the Commonwealth

As his mother’s successor, King Charles III. not only the head of the United Kingdom, but also of the Commonwealth. However, the title is not hereditary and on the death of the current monarch the successor to the crown does not automatically become Head of the Commonwealth14. However, at the Windsor Summit on 20 April 2018, Commonwealth leaders decided unanimously that Prince Charles would succeed his mother as Head of the Commonwealth.

In addition, he is the head of state of sixteen parliamentary monarchies, the United Kingdom, but also Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other nations, such as the island monarchies of St. Lucia, Jamaica, Grenada, the Bahamas… he has no effective power.

Operation of the Commonwealth

The intergovernmental organization plans a meeting of heads of government every two years. The last is from June. During this meeting, participants discuss major political, economic and social issues, their impact on their respective countries and the actions to be taken within the Commonwealth or collectively in other international bodies.

The 56 countries have no obligations to each other, but they do adhere to the Commonwealth Charter, which lists a number of “core values” such as democracy, the rule of law, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, separation of powers…

Common working language, legal systems, public administration and similar educations, the organization has developed on a common past while being in harmony with today’s world. The Commonwealth also plays an important role in the social and economic progress of its members.

The member states do not exchange ambassadors, but high commissioners. These are seen as representing their government and not the head of state, as an ambassador would.

The 56 current Member States represent an area of ​​30,282,502 km2 and are home to almost 2.5 billion inhabitants, ie one third of humanity.

To join the Commonwealth one must accept the principles of the Charter, be a sovereign state, King Charles III. as Head of the Commonwealth, accepting English as the language of the Commonwealth, respecting the wishes of the people to join or not to join and having had a historical connection with a state that is already a member.