THE MODERN COMMONWEALTH

The Commonwealth heads of government meet every two years and, before mobility issues hampered her ability to travel, the queen would usually be present in the host country.

IN THE BEGINNING

From the 1800s, as Britain’s colonies gained various levels of independence, some became semi-independent and were known as dominions. Dominion leaders attended imperial conferences with Britain from 1887.

At the 1926 conference – which was attended by the leaders of Australia, Canada, India, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, New Zealand and South Africa – Britain and the dominions agreed they were all equal members of a community within the British Empire. They had allegiance to the monarchy but they weren’t subject to the rule of the king or queen.

This community was named the British Commonwealth of Nations. By 1931, during the reign of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, the dominions became independent of the UK – even though by then they had effectively been self-governed for decades.

When India became independent in 1947, it wanted to become a republic that didn’t owe allegiance to the British monarch. It also wanted to remain a member of the Commonwealth.

Two years later it was decided at a meeting of Commonwealth prime ministers that republics could be part of the Commonwealth. That same year the king was declared head of the Commonwealth, a title Elizabeth took over when she succeeded her father.

The title is not hereditary although in 2018 Commonwealth leaders unanimously decided Prince Charles will head the organisation after the queen – something which pleased Her Majesty, who has said it is her “sincere wish” that her son succeeds her.

MEMBERSHIP

Since 1949 independent countries from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific have joined the Commonwealth.

The last two countries to come on board – Rwanda and Mozambique – have no historical ties to the British Empire. Rwanda was colonised by France and Germany and Mozambique was a Portuguese colony.

Rwanda joined to strengthen its geographical, cultural and trade relations with Commonwealth countries. Mozambique joined to bolster its access to NGOs and institutions to assist with development.

IN & OUT

Over the decades, countries have joined and left the Commonwealth. Barbados is the most recent nation to leave the realm although it remains a member of the Commonwealth. This means it no longer recognises the queen as head of state but can still benefit from economic partnership with Commonwealth countries.

Five countries exited the Commonwealth but later returned:

South Africa left in 1961 after bowing to global pressure because of apartheid. It rejoined after democracy in 1994.

Pakistan bowed out in 1972 in protest at the Commonwealth’s recognition of breakaway Bangladesh but was back by 1989.

Fiji was suspended in 1987 after the military coup that overthrew the country’s first democratically elected government and was readmitted 10 years later when democracy was restored.

The Maldives left in 2016 after accusing the Commonwealth of interfering in domestic affairs and successfully applied to be readmitted in 2020.

The Gambia pulled out in 2013 when it accused the Commonwealth of being a “neo-colonial institution”. The country was back five years later.