The Queen was head of the Commonwealth for 70 years. Big changes could be in store after her death.

Commonwealth countries are mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday. She was 96 years old.

Her death raises questions as to what the future holds for the Commonwealth, a remnant of the former British Empire and home to 2.4 billion people living in the “world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions,” according to the official website.

Here’s what may be in store for the Commonwealth following the Queen’s death.

The Queen.CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Commonwealth countries have entered a state of mourning

Under Operation Unicorn, the reported codename for events following the Queen’s death in Scotland, leaders of Commonwealth countries were some of the first to hear of the news.

Plans that have been long prepared in each country are now in motion to honor her legacy. In Canada, plans for her death have been ready since 2002, according to the National Post. They include immediately issuing all staff of Canada’s Governor General, Lieutenant Governors, and Territorial Commissioners black ties and armbands.

Elsewhere in Commonwealth countries in the Pacific, such as Australia, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands, flags are being flown at half-mast to pay tribute to the monarch, The Guardian reported.

Charles pictured visiting Ghana, one of the Commonwealth member states, in 2018.CRISTINA ALDEHUELA/AFP via Getty Images

As King, Charles has become head of the Commonwealth

Royal historian and author Hugo Vickers told Insider the respect for the Queen among Commonwealth countries has made her a “hard act to follow.”

Prior to 2018, questions circulated about who would become Head of the Commonwealth upon her death as unlike the transfer of power between monarchs, installing a new Head of the Commonwealth isn’t automatic, Metro reported.

The Independent reported in 2018 that British politician Jeremy Corbyn suggested presidents should be elected on a “rotational basis.” But speculation ended after a 2018 summit of Commonwealth leaders at Windsor Castle, when it was announced Charles would assume the role, a decision made after the Queen had said it was her “sincere wish,” the BBC reported.

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Bob Morris, Honorary Senior Research Associate at the Constitution Unit at UCL, told Insider that Charles has “always taken the Commonwealth very seriously.” In March 2021, the former Prince of Wales delivered a speech on Commonwealth Day calling the organization a “cornerstone” of his life, The Express reported.

The Queen’s last Commonwealth visit was to Malta in 2015.Mick Tsikas – Pool/Getty Images, Toby Melville -Pool/Getty Images

Under King Charles, Commonwealth countries should expect to see their leader more often

It’s been seven years since a reigning British monarch and Head of the Commonwealth visited one of the member states abroad, Tatler reported. But that will likely change with Charles as the head.

At 73, he’s in a much better position to undertake international official visits that Queen Elizabeth II stopped doing in 2015. That said, he will not be embarking on any trips without an invitation from Commonwealth countries, Morris said.

“He will only do so by invitation, he’s the head of state, but he’s not going to go barge in,” Morris added.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Some states may now break away

Only 14 Commonwealth countries have the British monarch as their head of state. These are known as “realms” and include Canada, Australia, and Jamaica.

But even before her death, there have been signs that some countries have grappled with a complicated historical relationship with the former British empire and are preparing for change.

In November 2021, Barbados – one of the world’s oldest colonies – became the first country in nearly three decades to remove the monarch as its head of state. Previously, the last country to have done so was Mauritius in 1992.

With the Queen’s death, it could be that other realms who have been holding back out of respect for the Queen will soon be revisiting the idea of independence. “There’s been talk in a number of the Commonwealth monarchies like Jamaica,” Morris said. “Others may return to that point because they partly they didn’t to show any disrespect for the Queen.”

Australia already considered the idea of becoming a republic, holding a referendum in 1999. The results of the referendum were relatively close, with the republicans in favor of ditching the monarch as head of state ultimately losing with an outcome of 45% to 55%.

However, the reality of becoming a republic is easier said than done, Morris said, as it involves changing a country’s constitution.

“In Canada, it’s impossible to change the constitution unless you get the agreement of all the provinces,” Morris added.

At least 6 countries have recently signaled intentions to change their head of state

More recent speculation regarding whether countries toying with the idea of becoming republics will make the leap and do so happened during Prince William and Kate Middleton’s eight-day tour of Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas in March – a visit that was later labeled “tone deaf” by royal commentators.

William, who is now first in line to inherit the throne after Charles, and Middleton were forced to cancel the first leg of the tour in Belize after locals carrying signs referencing colonialism and land disputes organized protests on their arrival. Later, the duke and duchess were criticized after photos of them greeting children through holes in a wire fence on a football field in Kingston, Jamaica, were released, Newsweek reported.

The prince expressed his “profound sorrow” over the history of slavery while making a speech at a dinner held by Jamaica’s Governor General. But his comments were later criticized by protestors, who said he did not take “responsibility” for the monarchy’s role in slavery, The Independent reported.

Following the tour, at least six Caribbean countries – including Jamaica, Belize, and Grenada – also signaled they intended to remove the British ruler as their sovereign.

“The move towards republicanism is grounded in the belief that it’s time for former colonized nations to really live their independence and claim self-determination and not be under a monarchical system,” Verene Shepherd, the chair of Jamaica’s National Commission on Reparations and chair of the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, told Foreign Policy Magazine.

Prince Philip and Charles.Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

Countries may leave or join the Commonwealth, and Charles won’t have a say

According to Vickers, the King’s father, Prince Philip, once said: “We’ll go quietly if you don’t want us,” regarding the decision of the Commonwealth realms to break away from the monarchy.

It’s likely Charles will adopt the same mentality, especially since neither the UK government nor the monarch has the power to stop them, Morris said.

“They’re independent countries and they must order their affairs as they see fit,” Morris added.

Even if realms choose to break away, there’s no saying they would cut ties with the Commonwealth completely. Despite no longer having the monarch as its head of state, Barbados chose to remain a member of the Commonwealth, The Independent reported.

It’s also worth noting that two countries without historic ties to the British Empire have previously joined the association voluntarily, the last being Rwanda in 2009.

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