Commonwealth Realm

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 state she acts as the monarch of that state and is titled accordingly. For example, in Australia she is known as "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia" or simply, the Queen of Australia. (See List of Titles and Honours of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom)

Related Topics:
Commonwealth - Queen Elizabeth II - Queen - Head of state - List of Titles and Honours of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

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Outside the United Kingdom, the Queen, on the advice of the prime minister of each state, appoints a Governor-General to act as her vice-regal representative during her absence. The Governor-General in turn exercises almost all the powers of the constitutional monarch with mostly symbolic, figurehead duties, but also reserve powers, called Royal Prerogative.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Prime minister - Governor-General - Constitutional monarch - Figurehead - Royal Prerogative

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In countries with federal systems like Canada and Australia, the Queen is also represented by a Governor in each of the states of Australia and by a Lieutenant Governor in each of the provinces of Canada.

Related Topics:
Federal - Canada - Australia - Governor - States of Australia - Lieutenant Governor - Provinces of Canada

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Fourteen of the Realms are former British self-governing colonies (including the Dominions) that became independent countries either after the ratification of the Statute of Westminster in 1931, the collapse of the Federation of the West Indies in 1961, or at later dates, the latest being Saint Kitts and Nevis in 1983. The two exceptions are Papua New Guinea which was administered by Australia as an international trusteeship before independence in 1975 and the United Kingdom itself.

Related Topics:
Self-governing colonies - Dominions - Independent countries - Statute of Westminster - 1931 - Federation of the West Indies - 1961 - Saint Kitts and Nevis - 1983 - Papua New Guinea - Australia - International trusteeship - 1975 - United Kingdom

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