I .
an association of 53 independent nations and several British dependencies (= a country controlled by another country) most of which used to be part of the British Empire . The British Commonwealth of Nations was set up in 1931 and has been known simply as the Commonwealth since 1949. Members of the Commonwealth have special links with the UK and with each other and agree to work together towards world peace, the encouragement of trade, the defence of democracy and improvements in human rights, health and education. It also encourages joint cultural and sporting events, particularly the Commonwealth Games . The British king or queen is the head of the Commonwealth and the senior official is the Secretary-General . Donald McKinnon, from New Zealand, has been the Secretary-General since 2000. A meeting of heads of government of all Commonwealth countries called the Commonwealth Conference takes place every two years and is organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat which is based in London. The second Monday in March is celebrated in many member countries as Commonwealth Day .
II .
a period (1649–60) in English history when the country was governed without a king or queen. For the first four years after the death of King Charles I , the country was governed by the House of Commons . Then in 1653 the army gave power to Oliver Cromwell with the title of Lord Protector. The years 1653–9 are therefore known as the Protectorate . The Commonwealth ended with the Restoration of King Charles II .