Monarchy of South Africa
From 1910 to 1961, the Union of South Africa was a self-governing country that shared a monarch with the United Kingdom and the other Dominions of the British Empire, and later the British Commonwealth. The monarch's constitutional roles were mostly delegated to the governor-general of the Union of South Africa.
| Monarchy of South Africa | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty 1910–1952 Her Majesty 1952–1961 |
| First monarch | George V |
| Last monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Residence | United Kingdom: Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. Union of South Africa: Government House. |
South Africa became a republic and left the Commonwealth of Nations on 31 May 1961.[1] On 31 May 1994, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth as a republic, after the end of apartheid.[2]
History edit
The monarchy was created by the South Africa Act 1909 which united four British colonies in Southern Africa: Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange River Colony and Transvaal.[3] The act also made provisions for admitting Southern Rhodesia as a fifth province of the union in the future, but Southern Rhodesian voters rejected this option in a referendum held in 1922. South-West Africa became a League of Nations mandate of the union in 1915. Following a referendum on the subject, South Africa adopted a new constitution in 1961 which abolished the monarchy.[4][5]
List of monarchs edit
| House of Windsor | ||||||
| Portrait | Name | Birth | Reign | Death | Consort | Succession right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George V | 3 June 1865 | 31 May 1910 – 20 January 1936 | 20 January 1936 | Monarch of the United Kingdom since 6 May 1910; son of Edward VII | ||
| Edward VIII | 23 June 1894 | 20 January 1936 – 10 December 1936[6] | 28 May 1972 | None while reigning | Son of George V | |
| George VI | 14 December 1895 | 10 December 1936 – 6 February 1952 | 6 February 1952 | Son of George V | ||
| Elizabeth II | 21 April 1926 | 6 February 1952 – 31 May 1961 | 8 September 2022 | Daughter of George VI | ||
| Titles |
|---|
| George V 31 May 1910 – 13 May 1927 By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India 13 May 1927 – 20 January 1936 His Majesty George V, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India |
| Edward VIII 20 January 1936 – 10 December 1936 By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India |
| George VI 10 December 1936 – 22 June 1948 By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India 22 June 1948 – 6 February 1952 By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith |
| Elizabeth II 6 February 1952 – 29 May 1953 By the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith 29 May 1953 – 31 May 1961 By the Grace of God, Queen of South Africa and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth |
Visits edit
George VI, his wife Elizabeth, and their daughters Elizabeth and Margaret, visited South Africa in 1947.[7]
Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband Philip, visited South Africa in her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth, in 1995 and 1999.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ 1961 – The O'Malley Archives, Nelson Mandela Foundation
- ^ South Africa returns to the Commonwealth fold, The Independent, 31 May 1994
- ^ "South Africa Act | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Southern Rhodesia rejects joining the Union of South Africa | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ . Southern Rhodesia Act 1965. 1 (1): 1. 16 November 1965. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via UK Government.
- ^ His Majesty King Edward the Eighth's Abdication Act, 1937 (Act No. 2 of 1937)
- ^ George VI (r.1936–1952) | The Royal Family
- ^ South Africa Prepares For Queen Elizabeth's Visit, PanaPress, 9 November 1999