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When Queen Elizabeth II passed away, the throne passed immediately and unceremoniously to the heir, Charles III. The 73-year-old is now called King Charles III.
However, with the Queen's death, Charles is not only the king of the United Kingdom, but will also be the head of state in several other countries, including but not limited to Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
These countries, 14 in total, are known as the Commonwealth realms. They are distinguished from the Commonwealth of Nations, a grouping of 54 countries that were once part of the British Empire, but most of which are no longer subject to the monarchy.
The countries that are part of the monarchy - and where Charles III is recognized as "head of state" - are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Canada, Papua New Guinea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and New Zealand.
In the wave of decolonization that occurred after World War II, dozens of newly independent countries emerged from the remains of the British Empire. Many of them, including India, Nigeria and Pakistan, became republics, discarding the monarchy and replacing it with another head of state figure, usually a president.
However, policymakers in countries that retained monarchy saw the institution as a valuable source of legitimacy and political stability. In these countries, the monarch's power is largely symbolic and decisions are made by an elected parliament. Therefore, monarchs are the head of state, but not the head of government – ??meaning they are not involved in day-to-day governance.
Shtojmë se është e mundur që numri i mbretërive të Komonuelthit mund të tkurret gjatë mbretërimit të mbretit Charles. Vitin e kaluar, Barbados e hoqi zyrtarisht Mbretëreshën Elizabeth si kreun e shtetit dhe u bë republikë. Zyrtarët në vendet e tjera aktuale të Komonuelthit në Karaibe kanë sinjalizuar gjithashtu se duan të largohen.
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