A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth that recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. In each Realm, she acts as the monarch of that state, and is titled accordingly. For example, in Barbados, she is known as "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados", or, simply, the Queen of Barbados (See List of Titles and Honours of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom). Outside the United Kingdom, the Queen, on the advice of the prime minister of each Realm, appoints a Gov ...

Including:

• Commonwealth Realm - Current Commonwealth Realms
• Commonwealth Realm - Flags of the Queen in Commonwealth Realms
• Commonwealth Realm - Flags of Governors General
• Commonwealth Realm - Constitutional implications
• Commonwealth Realm - Historical development
• Commonwealth Realm - Monarch's role in the Realms
• Commonwealth Realm - Sovereignty of the Realms
• Commonwealth Realm - One Crown or several?
• Commonwealth Realm - Former Commonwealth Realms
• Commonwealth Realm - Public perceptions
• Commonwealth Realm - The evolving crown
• Commonwealth Realm - Debate on the monarchy
• Commonwealth Realm - Republicanism

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Following their independence from the United Kingdom, most Commonwealth countries retained the Queen as head of state, changing the title of the monarch to indicate sovereignty of their own respective nations (ie: "Queen of Barbados", rather than "Queen of the United Kingdom"). The Union of South Africa and Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka) were the first to do this. When Papua New Guinea became independent of Australia in 1975, Queen Elizabeth was styled "Queen of Papua New Guinea", the first time she became Queen ...

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Commonwealth Realm, Commonwealth Realm - Current Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Flags of the Queen in Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Flags of Governors General, Commonwealth Realm - Constitutional implications, Commonwealth Realm - Historical development, Commonwealth Realm - Monarch's role in the Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Sovereignty of the Realms, Commonwealth Realm - One Crown or several?, Commonwealth Realm - Former Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Public perceptions, Commonwealth Realm - The evolving crown, Commonwealth Realm - Debate on the monarchy, Commonwealth Realm - Republicanism

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Elizabeth was born at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. Her father was The Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI), the second eldest son of King George V and Queen Mary. Her mother was The Duchess of York (née Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon), the daughter of Claude George Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and his wife, the Countess of Strathmore. She was baptised in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by Cosmo Lang, the then Archbishop of York and her godparents were King George and Queen Ma ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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In the United Kingdom, her official title is Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. In common practice Queen Elizabeth II is referred to simply as "The Queen", "Her Majesty" or, when addressed directly in conversation, as "Ma'am". At the moment of her succession, Elizabeth II also became the Queen of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand in addition to the United Kingdom of ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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Main articles: Descent of Elizabeth II and Ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth is the male-line great-grandaughter of Edward VII, who inherited the crown from his mother, Victoria. His father, Victoria's consort, was Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; hence Queen Elizabeth is a patrilineal descendant, through him, of the German princely house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha). Other notable members of the princely house are Albert II of Belgium and Si ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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The Queen is the Sovereign "by Grace of God" and is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. As with her predecessors, the coronation itself took place within the context of a church service (at Westminster Abbey) imbued with theological as well as constitutional meaning. The Queen retains the ancient title Fidei Defensor (Defender of the Faith) - a title first granted in 1521 by Pope Leo X to King Henry VIII prior to the Reformation. The Church of England remains the established church in England; archbishops and bishops are formally ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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The Queen's coat of arms are known as the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. These arms have been used by every British monarch since the reign of Queen Victoria. The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three lions passant guardant of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure fleury-counter-fleury of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Ireland. The crest is a lion statant guardant wearing the imperial crown, itself on another representation of that crown. The sinister supporter is ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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In the United Kingdom, her official title is Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. In common practice Queen Elizabeth II is referred to simply as "The Queen", "Her Majesty" or, when addressed directly in conversation, as "Ma'am". At the moment of her succession, Elizabeth II also became the Queen of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa, in addit ...

See also:

Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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Elizabeth has never given press interviews, and her views on political issues are largely unknown except to those few heads of government who have private conversations with her. She is also regarded privately as an excellent mimic. Rather conservative in dress, she is well-known for her solid-colour overcoats and decorative hats, which allow her to be seen easily in a crowd. Although she attends many cultural events as part of her public role, in her private life Elizabeth is said to have little interest in culture or the arts. Her main leisure interests includ ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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After the Coronation, Elizabeth and Philip moved to Buckingham Palace in central London. It is believed, however, that like many of her predecessors she dislikes the Palace as a residence and considers Windsor Castle, west of London, to be her home. She also spends time at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and at Sandringham House in Norfolk. Queen Elizabeth is the most widely travelled head of state in history (in front of Pope John Paul II). In 1953–54 she and Philip made a six-month round-the-world tour, becoming the first reigning mon ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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Elizabeth has developed friendships with many foreign leaders, including Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson and George H. W. Bush, whose son, George W. Bush, was the first American president in more than 80 years to stay at Buckingham Palace. On occasion such contacts have proved highly beneficial for the United Kingdom. For example, John Major as prime minister once had difficulty working with a particular Commonwealth leader. The Queen informed Major that he and the leader shared a mutual sporting interest (John Howard, Australian Prime Ministe ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government. Constitutionally, the Queen is an essential part of the legislative process of her Realms. The Queen-in-Parliament (the Queen, acting with the advice and consent of Parliament), in each country, is an integral part of Parliament, along with the upper and lower houses. In practice, much of the Queen's role in the legislative process is ceremonial, as her reserve powers are rarely exercised. For example, the Queen may legally grant or withhold Royal Assent to ...

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Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Early life, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Education, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Heiress Presumptive, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Military service, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Marriage and motherhood, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Children and grandchildren, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Succession, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Life as Queen, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Views and Perceptions, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Role in government, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Appointment of prime ministers: 3 controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with ministers, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional controversies, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Rhodesia, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - The United Kingdom, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Relations with world leaders, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Religious role, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Ancestry, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Titles, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Personality and image, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Coat of arms, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Footnotes

Read more here: » Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom - Constitutional role

Commonwealth Realm - Historical development. Before 1926, the monarch of the United Kingdom had nominally reigned over the Dominions as a single imperial domain, with a governor-general representing the British government. The Dominions were self-governing, but their ability to legislate remained theoretically subject to the British Parliament. Even though the Dominions were members of the League of Nations, the United Kin ...

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Commonwealth Realm, Commonwealth Realm - Current Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Flags of the Queen in Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Flags of Governors General, Commonwealth Realm - Constitutional implications, Commonwealth Realm - Historical development, Commonwealth Realm - Monarch's role in the Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Sovereignty of the Realms, Commonwealth Realm - One Crown or several?, Commonwealth Realm - Former Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Public perceptions, Commonwealth Realm - The evolving crown, Commonwealth Realm - Debate on the monarchy, Commonwealth Realm - Republicanism

Read more here: » Commonwealth Realm: Encyclopedia II - Commonwealth Realm - Constitutional implications

Commonwealth Realm - The evolving crown. Modern proponents of the monarchy outside the United Kingdom downplay the historical "British" aspect of the monarchy, and instead focus on the Queen as Head of State of an independent nation. There has thus been a fundamental shift between the "family" aspect of the days of the British Empire, in which all dominions rallied around a common monarch, and today, in which each Commonwealth realm is encouraged to think of the Queen as "their own", and serving a role independent of any other obligations in other countries. See also:

Commonwealth Realm, Commonwealth Realm - Current Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Flags of the Queen in Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Flags of Governors General, Commonwealth Realm - Constitutional implications, Commonwealth Realm - Historical development, Commonwealth Realm - Monarch's role in the Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Sovereignty of the Realms, Commonwealth Realm - One Crown or several?, Commonwealth Realm - Former Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Public perceptions, Commonwealth Realm - The evolving crown, Commonwealth Realm - Debate on the monarchy, Commonwealth Realm - Republicanism

Read more here: » Commonwealth Realm: Encyclopedia II - Commonwealth Realm - Public perceptions

The Commonwealth Realms are each members of, but should be distinguished from, the Commonwealth of Nations, which is an organization of mostly former British colonies, the majority of which do not consider the Queen to be Head of State. Commonwealth Realms are, in alphabetical order: Antigua and Barbuda, through independence in 1981 Australia, through adoption of the Statute of Westminster in 1942 (retroactive to 1939) The Bahamas, through independence in 1973 Barbados, through independence in 1 ...

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Commonwealth Realm, Commonwealth Realm - Current Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Flags of the Queen in Commonwealth Realms, Commonwealth Realm - Flags of Governors General,