Daughters of the British Empire

Commonwealth Countries

Independent Members of the Commonwealth in descending order of date of independence.

Britain's Dependent Territories

There are 14 remaining British Dependent Territories in the world.  In most dependent territories there is considerable self-government, with a legislature and civil service; Britain has responsibility for defense, internal security and foreign relations.  British policy is to give independence to those dependent territories which want it, and not to force it on those which do not.