The Commonwealth of Nations, commonly known as Commonwealth, gained its 54th member one minute after midnight today. This meant that, just 60 seconds after Brexit was officially delivered, the Commonwealth could boast twice the number members the EU has. 

The Queen has been the Head of the Commonwealth since February 5 1952, the day she succeeded on the throne her late father King George VI.

And she was surely delighted to know the Maldives was allowed to rejoin the Commonwealth after four years of absence.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland expressed her delight upon announcing the news.

She said: “I warmly congratulate Maldives on its successful application. 

“We are delighted to welcome the country and its people back to the Commonwealth.

“The reform process under way in Maldives aligns with the values and principles of the Commonwealth and we encourage the nation to continue on this path.

“Commonwealth members were pleased to note these developments and are happy once again to count Maldives as a member of the family.

“Together we will support Maldives to realise its ambitions.”

The Maldives quit the Commonwealth in 2016 after being threatened with suspension over its human rights record and lack of progress on democratic reform.

The country, formed by nearly 1,200 islands and home to approximately 430,000 people, rejoined the association thanks to the work done by its president, Ibrahim ‘Ibu’ Mohamed Solih.

Mr Solih, elected in November 2018, has been promoting human rights across the archipelago in the past months, has freed political prisoners and allowed exiled opposition figures to return to the islands.

Celebrating the return to the Commonwealth, Mr Solih said: “Today is a happy day for Maldivians as we return to the family of Commonwealth nations.

“As a young democracy, the Commonwealth’s foundational values of the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, multilateralism and world peace remain relevant to us more than ever.

“We gratefully acknowledge the support and help of the Commonwealth to the Maldivian democratic movement, and we look forward to the support of fellow member states to ensure the long-term entrenchment of these values in our society.” 

Members of the Commonwealth can leave at any time, as its membership is purely voluntary.

Pakistan left the association in 1972 – only to rejoin in 1989.

Similarly, The Gambia left the Commonwealth in 2013 and was allowed to return in 2018.

Zimbabwe’s membership was suspended in 2002 on the grounds of alleged human rights violations and deliberate misgovernment. 

The country decided to terminate its membership in 2003.

Throughout the 67-year-long reign of the Queen, the Commonwealth has grown from just eight nations to 54 members representing two billion people.

During this time, the Queen has played a unique part as a symbol of unity and strength at the heart of the Commonwealth.

When she was still travelling abroad, the Queen would regularly visit member states of the association.

Today, she still carries out several duties to strengthen and protect the unity of the Commonwealth, including meeting heads of state.  

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