According to Time, eight republics and 65 colonies, territories, and protectorates were part of the Commonwealth at the time of Elizabeth's coronation in 1953.īut while the British Empire crumbled as it began to lose its hold over territories, dregs of its legacy remained as some former colonies chose to become realms within the Commonwealth instead of fully independent nations, with the British monarch still serving as their head of state. Dozens of countries followed India's lead in the years after. In 1949, the UK opened the door for other colonies and territories to join the organization without recognizing the British monarch as its head of state.
As the Commonwealth's website says, India wanted to become a republic, meaning it would be a part of the Commonwealth but not swear allegiance to the British monarch. The Commonwealth was founded as territories under the British Empire started to gain differing levels of freedom - though the organization as we know it today wouldn't come about until after India gained independence from Britain in 1947.
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