This is why India has an Ambassador to the United States (not a Commonwealth member) but has a High Commissioner to Australia (a Commonwealth member). Members of the Commonwealth send "high commissioner" to fellow member states rather than "ambassadors". That declaration was the first to drop the adjective British, and thereafter the official name of the organization became the Commonwealth of Nations, or simply the Commonwealth." The Britannica Encyclopaedia notes, "In 1949 India announced its intention to become a republic, which would have required its withdrawal from the Commonwealth under the existing rules, but at a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government in London in April 1949 it was agreed that India could continue its membership if it accepted the British crown as only “the symbol of the free association” of Commonwealth members. In fact, it was India that changed the Commonwealth's character. The majority of member states are self-governing republics such as India. The Commonwealth of Nations' member states have no relationship with the British ruler. The Commonwealth should not be confused with the "Commonwealth realms" which is a separate term referring to the 14 countries besides the United Kingdom which still have the UK's ruler as their head of state, such as Canada and Australia. In 2018, the member states elected the then-Prince Charles as the future head of Commonwealth after Queen Elizabeth II. Though the position of the head of Commonwealth is not hereditary, the Queen Elizabeth II succeeded her father King George VI as the head. It was founded in 1931 and its present character came about in 1949. The Commonwealth of Nations, or simply the Commonwealth, is a group of 54 countries, most of which are former British colonies. History, roles of Commonwealth of nations Here we explain what's the Commonwealth of Nations, what was the role of Queen Elizabeth in it, and what experts say of its relevance and future.
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