All of the queen's kingdoms: the place did Elizabeth II reign? | World News

Queen Elizabeth II's reign encompassed to a big diploma Britain's declining international affect, from an empire that when bestrode the world to a middle-ranking economic system.

Throughout her time as queen, the footprint of her monarchy shrank dramatically, however at her loss of life she was nonetheless head of state of the UK and 14 Commonwealth international locations or realms, from Canada and Jamaica to Australia and New Zealand.

- Ceremonial -

At her coronation in 1953, Elizabeth II was topped queen of seven unbiased international locations: the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, which later modified its identify to Sri Lanka.

The numbers grew as decolonisation accelerated and British colonies and dependencies turned new Commonwealth realms.

Some determined to maintain her as head of state, others didn't.

The place she remained queen, the function was largely ceremonial, and her duties had been carried out by considered one of her governor generals -- a viceroy who successfully acts as head of state.

She was the queen of every newly unbiased nation in its personal proper, not merely as a result of she was the British monarch beforehand.

At her loss of life, she was head of state of: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and the UK.

These international locations are distinct from the broader 54-state Commonwealth of countries which have historic ties to the UK, however didn't essentially select to have the queen as head of state.

Learn extra: Key moments in Queen Elizabeth II's reign

Over her whole reign, she was head of state of 32 international locations in complete.

Seventeen of these determined to chop ties in some unspecified time in the future after changing into unbiased. They had been:

Barbados 1966-2021

Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1952-1972

Fiji 1970-1987

The Gambia 1965-1970

Ghana 1957-1960

Guyana 1966-1970

Kenya 1963-1964

Malawi 1964-1966

Malta 1964-1974

Mauritius 1968-1992

Nigeria 1960-1963

Pakistan 1952-1956

Sierra Leone 1961-1971

South Africa 1952-1961

Tanganyika 1961-1962

Trinidad and Tobago 1962-1976

Uganda 1962-1963

On the peak, she was queen of 18 international locations on the similar time, between 1983 and 1987. Since then, Fiji (1987), Mauritius (1992) and Barbados (2021) have turn into republics.

When Rhodesia -- Zimbabwe at the moment -- unilaterally declared its independence from Britain in 1965, it proclaimed its allegiance to the queen earlier than declaring itself a republic with a president in 1970, though its standing was by no means recognised internationally.

Being queen of New Zealand additionally meant she was the top of state of the Prepare dinner Islands and Niue, that are related states that type a part of the broader realm of New Zealand.

Britain has 14 abroad territories, together with Bermuda, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and British Antarctic Territory, over which she additionally dominated.

Her shortest reigns had been in Kenya, Tanganyika -- now the most important a part of Tanzania -- and Uganda, which every lasted precisely a yr between independence from Britain and changing into a republic.

Throughout her time on the throne, eight referendums had been held on changing into a republic, three of which handed: Ghana (1960), South Africa (1960) and The Gambia (1970).

Barbados declared itself a republic with out holding a referendum.

Those who didn't move had been a primary referendum in The Gambia (1965), two in Tuvalu (1986 and 2008), Australia (1999) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2009).