The Head of the Commonwealth heads the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organisation which currently comprises 54 sovereign states. The position is currently occupied by Queen Elizabeth II, who also serves as monarch and head of state for the 16 members of the Commonwealth of Nations that are also considered the Commonwealth realms. The title was created due to the dissolution of the title of the Emperor of India which was last held by King George VI. The title was made void because British India was dissolved on August 15, 1947 to form the Independent republics of India and Pakistan, following the Indian Independence movement. The Head of the Commonwealth has no day-to-day involvement in the governance of any of the member states within the Commonwealth of Nations. The first Head of the Commonwealth was King George VI, who was succeeded by the second and current Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II. The office is personal to Queen Elizabeth II and there is no agreement concerning whether the office will pass to her heir along with her other offices.
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—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)