The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries served by a Secretariat at Marlborough House

Background

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries.
It is home to 2.7 billion people and includes both advanced economies and developing countries; 33 of its members are small states, including many island nations.
Member governments have agreed on shared goals such as development, democracy and peace, and the association's values and principles are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.
His Majesty King Charles III is Head of the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the intergovernmental organisation that supports member countries and coordinates Commonwealth activities, and the Secretary-General is its Chief Executive Officer.
The international headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation are at Marlborough House on Pall Mall in London.
The establishment of the Commonwealth Secretariat in 1965 emphasised the equality of all members, and member countries are also supported by a network of more than 90 intergovernmental, civil, cultural and professional organisations.