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44-804: Several Commonwealth countries have organisations that bestow similar qualifications, among them the FRCSC in Canada, FRACS in Australia and New Zealand, FCS(SA) in South Africa, FCSHK in Hong Kong, FCPS by College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan in Pakistan and FCPS by College of Physicians & Surgeons of Mumbai in India. The intercollegiate FRCS examinations are administered by two committees,

88-580: A royal styles and titles act was passed in each of the Commonwealth realms, adding, for the first time, the term Head of the Commonwealth to the monarch's titles. The Queen had a personal flag created in December 1960 to symbolise her as Head of the Commonwealth without being associated with her role as queen of any particular country. Over time, the flag replaced the British royal standard when

132-619: A "positively harmful" symbol, "reinforcing the prejudice that the Commonwealth is merely a throwback to empire". They felt that the position itself was an impediment to the influence of the Commonwealth Secretariat. A report that Prince Charles would accompany the Queen to the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta claimed Elizabeth was "determined to see the headship descend to her son", while accepting that "it

176-746: A Westminster system. The monarch is not the same individual as the British monarch , hence making it not a Commonwealth realm. ^ F. In geology , the Maltese Islands are located on the African Plate . The island group lies approx. 200 km (120 mi) south of the boundary between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate . In political geography , Malta is considered a European country. On 15 May 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa submitted an application to rejoin

220-622: A framework of common values and goals, as outlined in the Singapore Declaration issued in 1971. Such common values and goals include the promotion of democracy , human rights , good governance , the rule of law , civil liberties , equality before the law , free trade , multilateralism , and world peace , which are promoted through multilateral projects and meetings, such as the Commonwealth Games , held once every four years. The symbol of this free association

264-545: A historical constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom or other Commonwealth states. Currently, fifteen of the member states are Commonwealth realms , with the Head of the Commonwealth as their heads of state , five others are monarchies with their own individual monarchs ( Brunei , Eswatini , Lesotho , Malaysia , and Tonga ), and the rest are republics . The Republic of Ireland (as of 1949 according to

308-499: A member of the Commonwealth Foundation . ^ C. Though Pakistan celebrates 14 August 1947 as its independence day, independence was officially granted at midnight, 15 August 1947. Therefore, its date of joining the Commonwealth would be 15 August 1947. ^ D. Geographically a part of Asia , considered a European country in political geography . ^ E. Constitutional monarchy that operates under

352-420: A one-off decision to elect Prince Charles to the headship, the monarch of the Commonwealth realms should automatically become head of the Commonwealth, or the post should be elected or chosen by consensus. There was also speculation that a rotating ceremonial "republican" headship might be instituted. The Daily Telegraph reported that "the post is not hereditary and many leaders want an elected head to make

396-406: A point echoed by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Shridath Ramphal , who said, "so steadfast was the Queen to the antiapartheid cause ... that, once again, she stood firm against the position of Thatcher". South Africa was re-admitted to the Commonwealth in 1994, following its first multiracial elections that year. Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said Elizabeth was a "behind

440-558: Is King Charles III , who serves as the Head of the Commonwealth . This position, however, does not imbue him with any political or executive power over any Commonwealth member states; the position is purely symbolic, and it is the Commonwealth Secretary-General who is the chief executive of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1926 when the Balfour Declaration of

484-470: Is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states , referred to as Commonwealth countries . Most of them were British colonies or dependencies of those colonies . No government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others, as is the case in a political union . Rather, the Commonwealth is an international organization in which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status, and cooperate within

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528-588: Is rendered in Latin as Consortionis Populorum Princeps , and in French as Chef du Commonwealth . The head of the Commonwealth serves as a leader, alongside the Commonwealth secretary-general and Commonwealth chair-in-office . Although Charles III is king of 15 member-states of the Commonwealth , he does not have any constitutional role in any Commonwealth state by virtue of his position as head of

572-426: Is the ceremonial leader who symbolises "the free association of independent member nations" of the Commonwealth of Nations , an intergovernmental organisation that currently comprises 56 sovereign states . There is no set term of office or term limit and the role itself has no constitutional relevance to any of the member states within the Commonwealth. The position is currently held by King Charles III . Head of

616-688: The Imperial Conference recognised the full sovereignty of dominions. Known as the "British Commonwealth", the original and therefore earliest members were Australia , Canada , the Irish Free State , Newfoundland , New Zealand , South Africa , and the United Kingdom . It was re-stated by the 1930 conference and incorporated in the Statute of Westminster the following year (although Australia and New Zealand did not adopt

660-668: The Irish War of Independence , the rebel Irish president Éamon de Valera proposed a relationship between Ireland and the British Empire he called external association , under which Ireland would be a republic "associated" with the rest of the British Commonwealth, and would "recognise His Britannic Majesty as head of the Association" but not as Ireland's King or head of state. This proposal was rejected, and

704-562: The United States recognition of the Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign states . The 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting agreed on the core criteria for Membership. An applicant country should have historic constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth member, aside from exceptional circumstances which are only considered on a case-by-case basis. Most Commonwealth member have constitutional links with

748-465: The treaty that ended the war saw the Irish Free State remain part of the Commonwealth as a Dominion. The Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931 established that the Dominions were equal in status to one another and legislatively independent, which gave each of them the right to legislate in regard to their shared head of state; thus, the abdication of Edward VIII and

792-459: The Commonwealth is also a title of the monarch of each of the Commonwealth realms according to the Royal Style and Titles Act . By 1949, what was then called the British Commonwealth was a group of eight countries, each having King George VI as monarch. India , however, desired to become a republic , but not to leave the Commonwealth by doing so. This was accommodated by the creation of

836-468: The Commonwealth after it became a republic in 1961, as many Commonwealth members, particularly those in Africa and Asia, as well as Canada, were hostile to its policy of racial apartheid . Through the 1980s, Queen Elizabeth II sided with the majority of Commonwealth heads of government, and against her British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher , on the matter of imposing sanctions on apartheid South Africa,

880-404: The Commonwealth is not hereditary , with successors chosen by the Commonwealth heads of government. Once in office, there is no term limit. Despite this, the words Head of the Commonwealth form part of the monarch's title in each Commonwealth realm. Before Charles was selected as the organisation's next head, Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper referred to Charles as "the future head of

924-542: The Commonwealth upon her death on 8 September 2022. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the British Empire began to be referred to as the Commonwealth of Nations , with several colonies gaining substantial autonomy as they achieved Dominion status. Nevertheless, the unity of this Commonwealth was seen as being established by a shared allegiance to the British monarch . During the negotiations to end

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968-569: The Commonwealth" and Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key said, "the title [of head of the Commonwealth] should just go with the Crown". By 2018, with Elizabeth II in her 90s, there had been discussions for some time about whether her eldest son, Charles , or someone else should become the third head of the Commonwealth. Commentators in British newspapers opined on whether it should be

1012-524: The Commonwealth. ^ G. The population figure is based on 2014 estimates. Other states which have expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth over the years include: Howard Henry, former Director of External Relations of the Cook Islands, stated that the Cook Islands could apply for Commonwealth membership as soon as the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, following

1056-477: The Commonwealth. He keeps in touch with Commonwealth developments through regular contact with the Commonwealth secretary general and the Secretariat, the Commonwealth's central organisation. The head of the Commonwealth or a representative attends the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held at locations throughout the Commonwealth. This is a tradition begun by Queen Elizabeth II at

1100-475: The Commonwealth; 1936 according to the Irish government) and Zimbabwe (2003) are former members of the Commonwealth. All dates below are provided by the Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat members list, and population figures are as of 1 February 2020. ^ A. Unless otherwise noted, independence was gained from the United Kingdom on the date (shown in column 2) of joining the Commonwealth. ^ B. Not

1144-564: The JCIE (Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations, which handles domestic examinations) and the JSCFE (Joint Surgical Colleges Fellowship Examination, which handles overseas examinations). This system replaced the earlier one in which each college administered its own examinations. First the curricula were intercollegiately coordinated by the ISCP (Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme) of

1188-726: The JCST (Joint Committee on Surgical Training), and then the examinations became intercollegiate. The original fellowship was available in general surgery and in certain specialties—ophthalmic or ENT surgery, or obstetrics and gynaecology—which were not indicated in the initials. It came to be taken midway through training. Each of the four Royal Colleges of Surgeons of the UK and Ireland used to administer its own examinations. The four postnominals were FRCS(Eng), FRCS(Ed), FRCS(G), and FRCS(I). The FRCS designation without further specification then referred by convention/tradition to FRCS(Eng) specifically. Today

1232-553: The Queen visited Commonwealth countries of which she was head of state, but did not possess a royal standard for that country, or of which she was not head of state, as well as on Commonwealth occasions in the United Kingdom. When the Queen visited the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, this personal standard—not any of her royal standards—was raised. South Africa was barred from re-entering

1276-688: The United Kingdom and the former British Empire . Former British dependencies are eligible to join the Commonwealth providing they agree and commit to the Commonwealth principles, these were laid out in the Singapore Declaration and reaffirmed in the Lusaka Declaration , the Langkawi Declaration and the Harare Declaration . Head of the Commonwealth The Head of the Commonwealth

1320-420: The accession of his brother as George VI required separate action in each Dominion. The Irish Free State, under de Valera's leadership, changed its constitutional law to create the office of an elected President of Ireland and limit the monarch to only a ceremonial role in foreign relations as a "symbol of cooperation" with other nations of the Commonwealth. This ambiguity over the Irish head of state allowed

1364-419: The country regarded him as Head of the Commonwealth. George VI's daughter, Elizabeth II , became Head of the Commonwealth upon her accession on 6 February 1952, stating at the time, "the Commonwealth bears no resemblance to the empires of the past. It is an entirely new conception built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man: friendship, loyalty, and the desire for freedom and peace." The following year,

Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons - Misplaced Pages Continue

1408-530: The examination and qualification are intercollegiate, although each surgeon can still choose afterward to be affiliated with one or more specific colleges. (In Canada the FRCS(C) qualification is administered by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada .) There are now a range of higher fellowships, taken at the end of higher specialist training and often in narrower fields, the first of which

1452-522: The image offended the white South African government. However, Elizabeth's visit, made despite recent bombings in the capital, was mainly intended to keep Ghana in the Commonwealth amid fears the country was getting too close to the Soviet Union . After the Queen's death in 2022, King Charles III became Head of the Commonwealth. He delivered his first Commonwealth Day message on 13 March 2023, in

1496-529: The opening of each Commonwealth Games, carries a message from the head of the Commonwealth to all Commonwealth Nations and territories. Every year on Commonwealth Day, the second Monday in March, the head of the Commonwealth broadcasts a special message to the population of the Commonwealth; approximately 2.5 billion people. On the same day, the head attends an inter-denominational Commonwealth Day service, held at Westminster Abbey . The position of head of

1540-400: The organisation more democratic." It was argued by Philip Murphy and Daisy Cooper that the role should simply lapse upon Queen Elizabeth's death, as Prince Charles was, at the time, in an "impossible position": promoting himself would be "anachronistic and presumptuous", whereas showing no interest would be "characterised as neglectful". Murphy and Cooper went further to say Charles would be

1584-534: The rest of the Commonwealth to continue to regard George VI as a monarch they shared with Ireland even as de Valera declared that Ireland was now "demonstrably a republic". Eventually the Irish government passed The Republic of Ireland Act 1948 , eliminating the final roles the King had in the state and terminating the Republic's membership in the Commonwealth when it went into effect in 1949. At that point, George VI

1628-446: The scenes force" in ending apartheid in the country. While the Queen never spoke publicly on the matter of apartheid, she was in 1961 photographed dancing with President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana during her visit to Accra , celebrating Ghana's establishment as a republic (also removing Elizabeth as head of state ) within the Commonwealth the year before. This act was taken as the Queen's symbolic expression of her anti-apartheid stance;

1672-766: The statute until 1942 and 1947, respectively). In 1949, the London Declaration marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth and the adoption of its present name. The members have a combined population of 2.6 billion, almost a third of the world's population , of whom 1.21 billion live in India , and 95% live in Africa and Asia combined. The most recent members to join were the Francophone African nations of Gabon and Togo on 29 June 2022, who along with Mozambique and Rwanda are unique in not having

1716-513: The suggestion of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1973, when the CHOGM was first held in Canada. During the summit, the head of the Commonwealth has a series of private meetings with Commonwealth countries' heads of government, attends a CHOGM reception and dinner, and makes a general speech. The head of the Commonwealth or a representative has also been present at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games . The Queen's Baton Relay , held prior to

1760-525: The symbol of the voluntary association of the countries of the Commonwealth "and as such the Head of the Commonwealth". By implication, this allowed India and other nations to become republics without leaving the Commonwealth. When India adopted a republican constitution on 26 January 1950, George VI ceased to be its monarch (the President of India , Rajendra Prasad , became head of state) and, thereafter,

1804-465: The title Head of the Commonwealth for the King and India became a republic in 1950. Subsequently, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II , other nations, including Pakistan , Sri Lanka , Ghana , and Singapore , also became republics, but, as members of the Commonwealth, recognised her as the organisation's head. Per agreement reached at the CHOGM in 2018 , Charles III succeeded Elizabeth II as head of

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1848-455: The week that marked the 10th anniversary of the Charter of the Commonwealth, which Charles III said, "gives expression to our defining values—peace and justice; tolerance, respect, and solidarity; care for our environment and for the most vulnerable among us". The title was devised in the London Declaration as a result of discussions at the 1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference . It

1892-686: Was FRCS (Orth) in orthopaedics . Others include FRCS (Urol) in urology and FRCS (OMFS) in maxillofacial surgery . The MRCS examinations are also now intercollegiate. The original 300 Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England ( FRCS ) include: Biographies of all original 300 Fellows are in Plarr's Lives of the Fellows . See Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England for more recent examples of Fellows . Commonwealth countries The Commonwealth of Nations

1936-399: Was still king of the United Kingdom , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , South Africa , India , Pakistan , and Ceylon . However, India also wished to become a republic, but, unlike Ireland, did not wish to leave the Commonwealth. To accommodate this, the London Declaration , issued in late April 1949, stated that India wished to remain part of the Commonwealth, and regarded the King as

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