Symbolic head of association of independent states
Head of the Commonwealth
Incumbent Charles III since 8 September 2022
Commonwealth of Nations
Seat
Marlborough House, London
Appointer
Commonwealth heads of government
Term length
Life tenure
Inaugural holder
George VI
Formation
28 April 1949; 75 years ago (1949-04-28)
Website
thecommonwealth.org
The Head of the Commonwealth is the ceremonial leader who symbolises "the free association of independent member nations" of the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organisation that currently comprises 56 sovereign states. There is no set term of office or term limit and the role itself has no constitutional relevance to any of the member states within the Commonwealth. The position is currently held by King Charles III.[1]
By 1949, what was then called the British Commonwealth was a group of eight countries, each having King George VI as monarch. India, however, desired to become a republic, but not to leave the Commonwealth by doing so. This was accommodated by the creation of the title Head of the Commonwealth for the King and India became a republic in 1950. Subsequently, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, other nations, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Singapore, also became republics, but, as members of the Commonwealth, recognised her as the organisation's head.[2] Per agreement reached at the CHOGM in 2018, Charles III succeeded Elizabeth II as head of the Commonwealth upon her death on 8 September 2022.[3]
^The Commonwealth - About Us, TheCommonwealth.org Archived 10 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 September 2022
^"Our history". Commonwealth. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
^"Charles 'to be next Commonwealth head'". BBC News. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
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