what does it mean to be part of the commonwealth

Princess Elizabeth arrives in Washington, DC, for an official visit on 31 October 1951. From there, on her 21st birthday, she made a radio broadcast to her future subjects around the world: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” It was a promise she kept over more than 70 years. That dedication was first expressed in 1947, shortly before her marriage to Philip Mountbatten, when she accompanied her parents – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – on a visit to South Africa. It was often said that the Commonwealth continued to exist long beyond the end of the empire solely because of the unity she gave it by her example and dedication. The Queen accepted this transition in a manner that made the Commonwealth a much more formidable partnership than it might otherwise have been.

She will be remembered in this context, first and foremost, for her dedication to the Commonwealth and for her commitment to and interest in the nations that, when she became Queen in 1952, were part of her empire and that during her reign became self-governing nations. “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”

What does it mean to be part of the commonwealth