The Queen uses a personal standard when acting as Head of the Commonwealth. This flag is used when she visits countries of the Commonwealth with another head of state, or Realms where she has no personalised standard.

The present British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is the second to be recognised as Head of the Commonwealth in the 53 member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. These include Commonwealth republics, sixteen Commonwealth Realms (where the monarch is also head of state separately from her roles as Head of the Commonwealth and monarch of the UK), and monarchies under another dynasty (as in Tonga, Malaysia, Swaziland, etc.). Image File history File links Personal_flag_of_Queen_Elizabeth_II.svg Personal flag used by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom when outside the Commonwealth Realms. ... Image File history File links Personal_flag_of_Queen_Elizabeth_II.svg Personal flag used by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom when outside the Commonwealth Realms. ... A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states that recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of 16 sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally, though she is more directly involved with the United Kingdom, where the Royal Family resides, and the Monarchy is historically indigenous. ... The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ... The Commonwealth republics, shown in pink A Commonwealth republic is any one of the 31 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations that have a republican form of government. ... The Commonwealth Realms, shown in pink A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations that separately recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ...

The official French version (for use in Canada) is Chef du Commonwealth; the South African version in Afrikaans was Hoof van die Statebond (literally 'Chief of the confederation', while the common Afrikaans word for Commonwealth is Gemenebes) to 31 May 1961, when it became a republic. Look up Wiktionary:Swadesh lists for Afrikaans and Dutch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Position

The role of the "Head" of the Commonwealth is perhaps best compared to that of a ceremonial president, but for life, unlike the chairman or secretary general of any other international organization, the head of the Commonwealth is a symbol of the association - without powers to decide what the Commonwealth should do or how it should conduct its affairs, yet playing a very important role in shaping the Commonwealth. A large number of international organizations and other bodies have a secretary general or secretary-general as their chief administrative officers or in other administrative capacities. ...

The title is not vested in the British Crown^[1] and the Commonwealth's members may not agree that the next monarch after Elizabeth II should automatically succeed her as Head of the Commonwealth upon accession to the Throne. ^[2]

The Head of the Commonwealth is recognised by its members as the "symbol of their free association", attends Commonwealth Heads of Government summits and the Commonwealth Games, which are held every four years, and on every Commonwealth Day, which is the second Monday in March, broadcasts a message to all member countries. Current flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation Locations of the games, and participating countries The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years involving the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March, and which is marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey normally attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Commonwealth High...

Every two years a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government is held, at locations throughout the Commonwealth. The Head of the Commonwealth is normally present in the host country, and has a series of private meetings with the Commonwealth countries' leaders and attends a CHOGM reception and dinner, and makes a speech there. The latest CHOGM was held in November 2005 in Malta; the next meeting will be held in 2007 in Uganda. The leaders of the nations with membership in the Commonwealth of Nations (or British Commonwealth) are collectively known as the Commonwealth Heads of Government. ...

History

The London Declaration of 1949, devised by Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent stated that the British monarch would be a symbol of the free association of independent countries, and as such the Head of the Commonwealth. These words meant that republics could be members - they could accept the monarch as Head of the Commonwealth without being their own Head of State. Thus when the former dominion of India became a republic within the Commonwealth in 1950, it recognised George VI as the symbol of the association, but not as its head of state. Stephen Harper is the current Prime Minister of Canada. ... Louis Stephen St. ... A dominion, often Dominion, is the territory or the authority of a dominus (a lord or master). ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state or country that is led by people whose political power is based on principles that are not beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor) (14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was the third British monarch using the name Windsor. ...

When Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952 she became Head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of 16 sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally, though she is more directly involved with the United Kingdom, where the Royal Family resides, and the Monarchy is historically indigenous. ...

On her accession she said "The Commonwealth bears no resemblance to the empires of the past. It is an entirely new conception built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man: friendship, loyalty, and the desire for freedom and peace."

Footnotes

Queen Elizabeth II

Ancestry: Descent · Ancestors The Crown is a term which is used to separate the government authority and property of the state in a kingdom from any personal influence and private assets held by the current Monarch. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of 16 sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally, though she is more directly involved with the United Kingdom, where the Royal Family resides, and the Monarchy is historically indigenous. ... Image File history File links Royal-Cypher-Eliz-2-Gold. ... This table shows the descent of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from Egbert, traditionally regarded as first King of England, and before that from Cerdic, founder of the House of Wessex. ... This table sets out the ancestry of Queen Elizabeth II for five generations, numbered according to the Ahnentafel genealogical numbering system. ... Commonwealth: Prime Ministers · Queen of Australia · Queen of Canada · Queen of New Zealand · Queen of the United Kingdom HM the Queen with Commonwealth Prime Ministers, in the 1950s. ... Elizabeth II is the current Queen of Australia. ... The Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada, proclaimed by King George V, November 21, 1921. ... New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its reigning monarch, since February 6, 1952. ... This article describes the British monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ... Overseas Visits: State visits · Commonwealth visits Below is a complete list of state visits made by Queen Elizabeth II 1950s 24-26 June 1955: Norway, visiting King Haakon VII 8-10 June 1956: Sweden, visiting King Gustav VI Adolf 18-21 February 1957: Portugal, visiting President Craveiro Lopes 8-11 April 1957: France, visiting President Ren... Fifties February 1952 Kenya 24-25 November 1953 Bermuda 25-27 November 1953 Jamaica 17-19 December 1953 Fiji 19-20 December 1953 Tonga 23 December 1953 - 30 January 1954 New Zealand 3 February - 1 April 1954 Australia 5 April 1954 Cocos Islands 10-21 April 1954 Ceylon 27 April... Titles: Titles and honours · Head of the Commonwealth This is a list of awards, decorations, honours, orders and titles belonging to Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... Public Celebrations: Silver Jubilee · Golden Jubilee · Queen's Official Birthday Elizabeth IIs Silver Jubilee and her domestic and international visits proved very popular with her subjects. ... Queen Elizabeth II makes an official appearance at the CBC Headquarters as part of her Jubilee goodwill tour, October 2002. ... The Queens Birthday or Queens Official Birthday is celebrated as a public holiday in several Commonwealth countries (usually Commonwealth realms). ...

See also

• List of Titles and Honours of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
• Commonwealth Realms