Many people believe that as the King of England, Charles III’s sovereignty stops at the borders of the United Kingdom. However, this is not true. As of May 2024, 15 separate Commonwealth realms look to King Charles III as their monarch.
While his role is mostly ceremonial, King Charles III is the “Head of the Commonwealth,” so he remains the monarch for 15 countries worldwide. Let’s identify these 15 Commonwealth realms and see where they are located across North America, Europe, and Oceania (Pacific Ocean).
Tuvalu
- Prime Minister: Feleti Teo
- Population: 11,204
A Polynesian island located in the Oceania subregion, Tuvalu declared independence from the UK in October 1978 but still functions as a constitutional monarchy.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Prime Minister: Terrance Drew
- Population: 47,606
A two-island country in the West Indies, Saint Kitts and Nevis have been Commonwealth realms since 1983.
Antigua and Barbuda
- Prime Minister: Gaston Browne
- Population: 93,219
Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign country in the Caribbean with two separate islands. After declaring independence in 1981, the country chose to remain part of the Commonwealth.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Prime Minister: Ralph Gonsalves
- Population: 104,332
Located in the eastern Caribbean, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines declared independence in October 1979. However, it opted to remain part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Grenada
- Prime Minister: Dickon Mitchell
- Population: 124,610
Grenada, an island country in the West Indies, had been part of the British Empire since 1763. After declaring independence in February 1974, Grenada remained part of the Commonwealth.
Saint Lucia
- Prime Minister: Philip J. Pierre
- Population: 179,651
An island country in the West Indies, Saint Lucia is believed to have been first settled in 200 AD. Although it declared independence from the British in 1979, it remains part of the Commonwealth.
Belize
- Prime Minister: Johnny Briceno
- Population: 400,031
Belize is a Central American country on the southern border of Mexico. It is the only mainland country still part of the Commonwealth realm and has King Charles III as its monarch.
The Bahamas
- Prime Minister: Philip Davis
- Population: 407,906
With over 3,000 islands, The Bahamas is one of the largest island nations in the Caribbean by square miles. Having gained independence from the UK in 1973, it remains part of the Commonwealth realms.
Solomon Islands
- Prime Minister: Jeremiah Manele
- Population: 707,851
The Solomon Islands, located southwest of Australia, consists of six large islands and 900 smaller islands. Having achieved independence in 1975, the Solomon Islands became a constitutional monarchy through King Charles III.
Jamaica
- Prime Minister: Andrew Holness
- Population: 2,827,695
The third largest Caribbean island, Jamaica, is famous for its beauty and is heavily dependent on tourism. It has been a member of the Commonwealth realm since August 1962.
New Zealand
- Prime Minister: Christopher Luxon
- Population: 5,129,727
A constitutional monarchy, King Charles III is the King of New Zealand and head of state, though his power is limited. With a prime minister, New Zealand is recognized as one of the world’s most stable countries.
Papua New Guinea
- Prime Minister: James Marape
- Population: 9,949,437
Located in the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea has been ruled by three powers since 1883, only to declare independence in 1975. The country decided to remain a Commonwealth realm.
Australia
- Prime Minister: Anthony Albanese
- Population: 25,921,089
Both a country and a continent, Australia is the world’s sixth-largest country. The current king, King Charles III, is represented by a governor-general.
Canada
- Prime Minister: Justin Trudeau
- Population: 38,155,012
Composed of ten provinces and three territories, Canada is one of the world’s largest countries by total area. Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as the sovereign power.
United Kingdom
- Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak
- Population: 67,281,039
The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and King Charles III is the lone sovereign. It was formed in 1707 and incorporated again between 1800 and 1801.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Keattikorn/Shutterstock.com.
