The Monarchy Today > Queen and Commonwealth

In Papua New Guinea The Queen is known in the pidgin language of Tok Pisin as ‘Missis Kwin’, and as ‘Mama belong big family’.

The Queen visited for the first time in February 1974, and again in 1977 during her Silver Jubilee tour, when she toured the capital Port Moresby, Popondetta and Alotau. The Queen and Prince Philip visited again in October 1982.

The islands which form Tuvalu were formerly known as the Ellice Islands.

Together with the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati), they were proclaimed a protectorate in 1892 and annexed to the British Crown (at the request of the local governments) as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in 1915.

In 1975 the Ellice Islands severed constitutional links with the Gilbert Islands and took a new name, Tuvalu, achieving independence in 1978. Tuvalu retained The Queen as Head of State.

It is now a special member of the Commonwealth, with the right to participate in all Commonwealth activities and functions, but not to attend Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.

The Queen paid a visit to these remote and extraordinary islands in 1982.

Situated in the Pacific Ocean, east of New Guinea, the Solomon Islands became an independent state and member of the Commonwealth in 1978, retaining The Queen as Sovereign.

In 1974 The Queen and Prince Philip, with Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, visited the Solomon Islands during a tour of the area.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh made a further visit in October 1982, after they had attended the Commonwealth Games in Australia.


	The Queen is Sovereign of three island nations in the South Pacific – Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. The Queen is Sovereign of three island nations in the South Pacific – Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. All three nations are parliamentary democracies and constitutional monarchies. The Queen is represented in all three nations by Governor-Generals, who carry out the duties of Head of State. Unlike other Commonwealth realms, the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea is nominated by the country’s Parliament, rather than by its Prime Minister, as is the convention elsewhere. Developments in transportation during her reign have allowed The Queen to make several visits to these far-flung and beautiful places. Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia in 1975, but retained The Queen as Sovereign. Independence celebrations were attended by The Prince of Wales, as The Queen’s special representative. The Duke of Edinburgh visited the country in the course of an extended Commonwealth tour which lasted from October 1956 until February 1957.
	In Papua New Guinea The Queen is known in the pidgin language of Tok Pisin as ‘Missis Kwin’, and as ‘Mama belong big family’. The Queen visited for the first time in February 1974, and again in 1977 during her Silver Jubilee tour, when she toured the capital Port Moresby, Popondetta and Alotau. The Queen and Prince Philip visited again in October 1982. The islands which form Tuvalu were formerly known as the Ellice Islands. Together with the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati), they were proclaimed a protectorate in 1892 and annexed to the British Crown (at the request of the local governments) as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in 1915. In 1975 the Ellice Islands severed constitutional links with the Gilbert Islands and took a new name, Tuvalu, achieving independence in 1978. Tuvalu retained The Queen as Head of State. It is now a special member of the Commonwealth, with the right to participate in all Commonwealth activities and functions, but not to attend Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings. The Queen visiting Tuvalu in 1982 © Camera Press The Queen paid a visit to these remote and extraordinary islands in 1982. Situated in the Pacific Ocean, east of New Guinea, the Solomon Islands became an independent state and member of the Commonwealth in 1978, retaining The Queen as Sovereign. In 1974 The Queen and Prince Philip, with Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, visited the Solomon Islands during a tour of the area. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh made a further visit in October 1982, after they had attended the Commonwealth Games in Australia. The Queen A biography of the Head of the Commonwealth