The erstwhile Empire of Britain is where the Commonwealth got its start.

King George VI was recognised as the Commonwealth Head in the 1949 London Declaration. The leaders of the Commonwealth acknowledged Queen Elizabeth II in that capacity after his passing. As head, The Queen personally worked to strengthen the bonds that brought people from all over the world together through the Commonwealth.

Following her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II assumed leadership of seven independent Commonwealth nations. These nations included the Head of the Commonwealth, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka).