Monarchy of Pakistan

Monarchy of Pakistan

The Monarchy of Pakistan was the form of government of the Dominion of Pakistan from 1947 to 1956. Under this system, Pakistan was an independent Commonwealth realm with a hereditary, constitutional monarch as the head of state

The monarch was the monarch of the United Kingdom and was also shared with a number of other countries. The role of the monarch was defined under the Constitution. Most of the monarch's duties were carried out by the Governor-General of Pakistan.

The monarchy of Pakistan was created by the Indian Independence Act of 1947. This act, made by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, divided its British India into two new countries: India and Pakistan, each of which became an independent constitutional monarchy. Succession to the throne of Pakistan was, like that of the United Kingdom, governed by the Act of Settlement 1701.

Pakistan adopted a new constitution on 23 March 1956. This constitution abolished the monarchy, making Pakistan a republic in the Commonwealth of Nations. Pakistan left the Commonwealth in 1972 but rejoined in 1989.

List of Pakistani Monarchs

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	Monarch From	Monarch Until	Relationship with predecessor
	King George VI	14 December 1895	6 February 1952	15 August 1947	6 February 1952	None (position created by law)
	Queen Elizabeth II	21 April 1926	—	6 February 1952	23 March 1956	Daughter of George VI

List of Pakistani Consorts

Portrait	Name	Birth	Death	Consort From	Consort Until	Relationship with monarch
	Queen Elizabeth	4 August 1900	30 March 2002	15 August 1947	6 February 1952	Wife of King George VI
	Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh	10 June 1921	—	6 February 1952	23 March 1956	Husband of Queen Elizabeth II

During the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, she was crowned as Queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries, including Pakistan, which was still a dominion at the time, whereas India was not, as the Dominion of India had become a republic under the new Indian constitution of 1950.

Pakistan ceased being a dominion on 23 March 1956 on the adoption of a republican constitution. However, Pakistan became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Queen visited Pakistan as Head of the Commonwealth in 1961 and 1997, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Pakistan left the Commonwealth in 1972 over the issue of the former East Pakistan province becoming independent as Bangladesh. It rejoined in 1989, then was suspended from the Commonwealth twice: firstly from 18 October 1999 to 22 May 2004 and secondly from 22 November 2007 to 22 May 2008.

Surprising as it may seem today, Elizabeth II, the reigning queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations, was the Queen of Pakistan for four years. Yes, the world’s first “Islamic Republic” was ruled by English heads of state for nine years: Elizabeth and her father, George VI. Elizabeth’s reign over Pakistan ended 60 years ago, when, on March 23, 1956, Pakistan became a republic.