Head of the Commonwealth

The head of the Commonwealth is the ceremonial leader of the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organisation that is made up of 56 sovereign states.^[1]

Head of the Commonwealth
Incumbent Charles III since 8 September 2022
Seat	Marlborough House, London
Appointer	Commonwealth heads of government
Term length	Life
Inaugural holder	George VI
Formation	28 April 1949; 76 years ago (1949-04-28)
Website	thecommonwealth.org

Background

In 1949, King George VI was king of each of the countries that then made-up the British Commonwealth (later the Commonwealth of Nations): the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, and Ceylon.

The London Declaration, which was made in late April 1949,^[2][3][4][5] said that the King, as the symbol of the countries of the Commonwealth, was the head of the Commonwealth.

List of heads

No.	Portrait	Name	Birth	Term			Death
				Start	End	Duration
1		George VI	14 December 1895	26/28 April 1949[n 1]	6 February 1952	2 years, 284 days	6 February 1952
2		Elizabeth II	21 April 1926	6 February 1952	8 September 2022	70 years, 214 days	8 September 2022
3		Charles III	14 November 1948	8 September 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 16 days	Living

Notes

1. Based on the London Declaration.^[2]