abstract
| - The Imperial Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth, and formally referred as the British Imperial Commonwealth of Nations, is an intergovernmental organisation of sixteen independent member states, the 5 countries of Britain, and 3 Crown Colonies. All of these countries were formerly part of the British Empire. These include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace. The Commonwealth is a political union, and an intergovernmental organisation through which countries with diverse social, political and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status. Its activities are carried out through the permanent Imperial Commonwealth Secretariat, headed by the Imperial Secretary-General, and biennial Meetings between Imperial Commonwealth Heads of Government. The symbol of their free association is the Imperial Head of the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial position currently held by Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth II is also monarch of the sixteen Imperial Commonwealth members, which are known as the "Imperial Commonwealth realms".
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