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The Queen making a speech at the official opening of the New Zealand Parliament, 1995
PA News Photo Library |
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Commonwealth realms
A Commonwealth realm is a country where The Queen is the Head of State. The Queen is Queen not only of Britain and its dependent territories, but also of the following realms: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
The Royal Titles Act 1953 provided that legislation on the Royal Title was to be enacted separately by each of The Queen's Commonwealth realms, i.e. each Commonwealth country which retained a monarchical constitution, recognising The Queen as Head of State. The form which this takes in each realm includes a common element: the description of the Sovereign as 'Queen of Her other Realms and Territories and Head of the Commonwealth'.
When The Queen visits one of her Commonwealth realms, she speaks and acts as Queen of that country, and not as Queen of the United Kingdom. As a constitutional monarch, The Queen acts on the advice of the ministers of the realm concerned. In each of the realms, The Queen is represented by a Governor-General. He or she is appointed by The Queen on the advice of the ministers of the country concerned and is completely independent of the British Government. The Queen maintains direct contact with the Governors-General although she delegates executive power to them in virtually every respect.
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