2012 Event Queen Elizabeth II shares her Christmas Message with her Commonwealth subjects, referencing the 'humbling' experience of her diamond jubilee celebrations and the 2012 Summer Olympics;the speech is the first to be broadcast in 3D 2012 Event All members of the Commonwealth of Nations, who have the British Monarch as their head of state, agree to the Succession of the Crown Bill, enabling a female child, for the first time, to become monarch 2012 Event Queen Elizabeth II marks her 60th anniversary of becoming monarch of the U.K and seven sovereign states in the Commonwealth of Nations 2012 Event The U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague, begins a two day tour of Myanmar 2011 Event The 8th largest search engine in the world, Russia's Yandex, marks its first venture outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by expanding into Turkey 1994 Death Arnold Smith, British 1st Secretary-General of Commonwealth (1965-75), dies at 79 1991 Event Soviet Union formally dissolves 11 of 12 republics sign treaty forming Commonwealth of Independent States 1991 Event Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine form Commonwealth of Ind States 1990 Birthday Princess Eugenie of York, born in Portland Hospital, London, the sixth and the second female in the succession line to the thrones of sixteen independent Commonwealth states 1986 Event Northern Mariana Islands becomes a Commonwealth associated with US 1980 Event CTUC, Commonwealth Trade Union Council, established 1978 Event Commonwealth of Northern Marianas established 1975 Event Voters in Northern Mariana Is approve commonwealth status with U.S. 1972 Event Bangladesh becomes a member of British Commonwealth 1972 Event Pakistan withdraws from the British Commonwealth 1970 Event Gambia becomes a republic within Commonwealth 1968 Birthday Ritchie Woodhall, born in Woodside, Telford, England, boxer, athlete, television and radio broadcaster, bronze medal winer, 1988 Seoul Olympics, 1990 Gold Commonwealth Games 1963 Event Zanzibar becomes independent within British Commonwealth 1963 Event Uganda becomes a republic within British Commonwealth 1963 Event Nigeria becomes a republic within Commonwealth 1962 Event Tanganyika becomes a republic within British Commonwealth 1961 Event Great Britain limits immigration from Commonwealth countries 1961 Event Tanganyika becomes independent within British Commonwealth 1961 Event Union of South Africa becomes a republic, leaves Commonwealth 1961 Event South Africa leaves British Commonwealth 1961 Event South Africa withdraws from British Commonwealth 1960 Event Nigeria becomes a member of British Commonwealth 1959 Event Empire Day renamed Commonwealth Day in England 1958 Event British Empire Day is renamed "Commonwealth Day" 1956 Event Pakistan proclaimed an Islamic republic in Commonwealth (National Day) 1955 Birthday Tony Allcock, born in Leicestershire, England, bowler, two-time world outdoor singles champion, 1992, 1996, world singles champion 1986, 1987, 2002, won silver medal in men's singles event at 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada 1952 Event Puerto Rico becomes a U.S. commonwealth 1952 Event Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created (Constitution Day) 1952 Event Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing U.S. commonwealth 1949 Event India adopts a constitution as a British Commonwealth Republic 1949 Birthday Geoff Capes, born in Holbeach, England, shot putter, two-time winner, World's Strongest Man title, two-time Commonwealth Games shot put champion 1949 Event Republic of Ireland withdraws from British Commonwealth 1947 Event India granted independence within British Commonwealth 1947 Event British Dominion Affairs office becomes Commonwealth Relations office 1942 Event Queen Wilhelmina announces Dutch Commonwealth 1935 Event Commonwealth of Philippines inaugurated 1935 Event Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims Philippine Islands a free commonwealth 1928 Birthday James Porter, CEO, Commonwealth Institute 1926 Event Imperial Conference ends-giving autonomy inside British Commonwealth 1926 Birthday Arthur Hockaday, director-Gen, Commonwealth War Graves Commission 1924 Birthday Peter Heatly, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation 1915 Event Australia begins Commonwealth Lighthouse Service 1901 Event Commonwealth of Australia established 1870 Birthday Jan Christian Smuts, proponnent of Commonwealth and League of Nations 1859 Event South Carolina declared an "independent commonwealth" 1660 Event Charles II restored to English throne after Puritan Commonwealth 1611 Birthday James Harrington, England, political author, Commonwealth of Oceans 1510 Death Tree of Commonwealth, beheaded at about 48
