The Commonwealth of Nations

Today the 'Commonwealth of Nations', generally known as just the 'Commonwealth', consists of 54 independent and equal countries - most of which are former territories of the British Empire. The Commonwealth is an idea that all member countries are free and equal partners with Great Britain and get a choice over whether they are or are not a member. All countries support international peace, liberty of the individual, equal rights for all its citizens and the removal of poverty, ignorance and disease.

​Photo of the Countries in the Commonwealth as of 2021, from thecommonwealth.org

Key Words and their meanings;

Sovereign - A supreme rules such as a King or Queen of a country

Republics of the Commonwealth - The Queen does not rule this country, they have their own head of states.

Dominion - The right for a country to govern itself.

With the British Empire still standing in 1914, the First World War broke out with the United Kingdom declaring war on Germany on behalf of the British Empire, without consulting any of the other Dominions.

In 1931 the Commonwealth was founded under the name the 'British Commonwealth of Nations' in London. The organisation had 5 initial members, The United Kingdom, Canada, The Irish Free State, Newfoundland (which is now apart of Canada) and the Union of South Africa.

In 1946, the named 'British Commonwealth of nations' changed to just the 'Commonwealth of Nations'.

In 1947 India wanted to become independent, a Republic, meaning they no longer wished to use the British Monarchy as their head of state but wanted to stay apart of the Commonwealth.

In 1949 the current and modern day was formed as the London Declaration was modified. The original requirement was that members of the Commonwealth must view the British Monarchy as their head of state. The new and changed requirement was that countries recognise the British Monarchy as the leader of the Commonwealth instead.

With the Declaration modified, new countries joined the Commonwealth as they gained their independence from the U.K.

Out of the 54 member countries; 34 members are republics - this means the British Monarchy is not their Head of State, 5 have their own Monarchies

and 15 being 'constitutional monarchy with the sovereign', meaning the British Monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II, is their Head of State.

The Commonwealth Countries is includes;

Photo from Commonwealth Entrepreneur Club

As part of the Commonwealth of Nations, countries can participate in the Commonwealth games, which is an international multi-sport game which is held every 4 years. The games started in 1930 under the name the British Empire Games. The focus being to bring together members of the Commonwealth for athletes to complete in the spirit of Friendship and Fair play.