List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II
Since succeeding her father on 6 February 1952, Queen Elizabeth II has been head of state of 32 different independent states; currently, there are 16 states, called Commonwealth realms. Within the Westminster system in each realm, the Queen's government is headed by a prime minister. Appointment and dismissal of prime ministers are common reserve powers that can be exercised by the Queen or her governors-general.
This list does not cover Commonwealth nations that are not Commonwealth realms, nor holders of offices of prime minister in colonies or sub-national entities such as states or provinces.
The Queen has had over 170 individuals serve as her realms' prime ministers throughout her reign, the first new appointment being Dudley Senanayake as Prime Minister of Ceylon and the most recent being Kausea Natano as Prime Minister of Tuvalu; some of these individuals have served multiple non-consecutive terms in office as prime minister. Several of the Queen's prime ministers from various realms have been appointed for life to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
Prime ministers of current realms
Antigua and Barbuda
became independent on 1 November 1981 with Vere Bird as the first prime minister. Bird had previously been Premier of Antigua.Reference
Australia
was the incumbent prime minister of Australia when Elizabeth became queen.Reference
Bahamas
became independent on 10 July 1973 with Lynden Pindling as the first prime minister. Pindling had previously been the prime minister of the self-governing Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands.Reference
Barbados
became independent on 30 November 1966 with Errol Barrow as the first prime minister. Barrow had previously been Premier of Barbados.Reference
Belize
became independent on 21 September 1981 with George Cadle Price as the first prime minister. Price had previously been Premier of Belize.Reference
Canada
was the incumbent Prime Minister of Canada when Elizabeth became queen.Reference
Grenada
became independent on 7 February 1974 with Eric Gairy as the first prime minister. Gairy had previously been Premier of Grenada.Reference
Jamaica
became independent on 6 August 1962 with Alexander Bustamante as the first prime minister. Bustamante had previously been Premier of Jamaica.Reference
New Zealand
was the incumbent Prime Minister of New Zealand when Elizabeth became queen.Papua New Guinea
became independent on 16 September 1975 with Michael Somare as the first prime minister. Somare had previously been Chief Minister of the Papua New Guinea.Reference
Saint Kitts and Nevis
became independent on 19 September 1983 with Kennedy Simmonds as the first prime minister. Simmonds had previously been Premier of Saint Kitts and Nevis.Reference
Saint Lucia
became independent on 22 February 1979 with John Compton as the first prime minister. Compton had previously been Premier of Saint Lucia.Reference
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
became independent on 27 October 1979 with Milton Cato as the first prime minister. Cato had previously been Premier of Saint Vincent.Reference
Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands became independent on 7 July 1978 with Peter Kenilorea as the first prime minister.Reference
Tuvalu
became independent on 1 October 1978 with Toaripi Lauti as the first prime minister. Lauti had previously been Chief Minister of Tuvalu.Reference
United Kingdom
was the incumbent Prime Minister of the United Kingdom when Elizabeth became queen. The current Prime Minister is Boris Johnson.Reference
Prime ministers of former realms
This section lists prime ministers during Elizabeth's reign of former states that became republics during her reign. Where an office of prime minister remained after the transition, and the incumbent at the time of transition remained in that office, the date of the end of that period in office is given in the tables below.Ceylon
was the incumbent prime minister of Ceylon when Elizabeth became queen.Reference
Ceylon abolished the monarchy on 22 May 1972 and renamed the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Bandaranaike remained in office as the republic's first prime minister until 23 July 1977.
Fiji
became independent on 10 October 1970 with Kamisese Mara as the first prime minister. Mara had previously been Chief Minister of Fiji.Reference
Following the 1987 Fijian coups d'état, on 7 October 1987, the new ruling regime declared the nation to have become the Republic of Fiji. Fiji's relationship with the monarchy after this transition is complex.
Gambia
became independent on 18 February 1965 with Dawda Jawara as the first prime minister. Jawara had previously been prime minister of the self-governing Gambia.Reference
The Gambia abolished the monarchy on 24 April 1970, via referendum. Jawara became President of the Gambia on the same day as the post of prime minister was abolished.
Ghana
became independent on 15 August 1957, with Kwame Nkrumah as its first prime minister. Nkrumah had previously been prime minister of the self-governing Gold Coast.Reference
Ghana abolished the monarchy on 1 July 1960, via referendum. Nkrumah became President of Ghana on the same day as the post of prime minister was abolished.
Guyana
became independent on 26 May 1966, with Forbes Burnham as its first prime minister. Burnham had previously been Premier of British Guiana.Reference
Guyana abolished the monarchy on 23 February 1970. Burnham remained in office as the republic's first prime minister until 6 October 1980.
Kenya
became independent on 12 December 1963, with Jomo Kenyatta becoming the first prime minister. Kenyatta had previously been prime minister of self-governing Kenya.Reference
Kenya abolished the monarchy on 12 December 1964. Kenyatta became President of Kenya as the post of prime minister was abolished.
Malawi
became independent on 6 July 1964, with Hastings Banda as prime minister. Banda had previously been prime minister of self-governing Nyasaland.Reference
Malawi abolished the monarchy on 6 July 1966. Banda became President of Malawi as the post of prime minister was abolished.
Malta
The Crown Colony of Malta became independent as the State of Malta on 21 September 1964 with George Borg Olivier as prime minister. Olivier had previously been the colony's prime minister.Reference
Malta abolished the monarchy on 13 December 1974 and became the current Republic of Malta, a republic within the Commonwealth. Mintoff remained in office as the republic's first prime minister until 22 December 1984.
Mauritius
became independent on 12 March 1968, with Seewoosagur Ramgoolam becoming the first prime minister. Ramgoolam had previously been Chief Minister of Mauritius.Reference
Mauritius abolished the monarchy on 12 March 1992. Jugnauth remained in office as the republic's prime minister until 15 December 1995.
Nigeria
The Federation of Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960, with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa becoming the first Prime Minister of Nigeria. Balewa had previously been Chief Minister of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.Reference
Nigeria became the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 1 October 1963. Balewa remained in office as the republic's prime minister until his overthrow and assassination in the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état on 15 January 1966.
Pakistan
was the incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan when Elizabeth became queen.Reference
Pakistan abolished the monarchy on 23 March 1956. Ali remained in office as the republic's first prime minister until 12 September 1956.
Sierra Leone
became independent on 27 April 1961, with Milton Margai as the first prime minister. Margai had previously been Prime Minister of the Protectorate of Sierra Leone.Reference
Siaka Stevens assumed the role of prime minister following his party's narrow victory in the 1967 general election. However, immediately after taking office, Stevens was deposed by the National Reformation Council in a coup d'état and placed under house arrest. Military rule persisted until an April 1968 counter-coup restored Stevens' premiership.
Sierra Leone became the Republic of Sierra Leone on 19 April 1971. Stevens left the office of prime minister two days later and became President of Sierra Leone.
South Africa
was the incumbent prime minister of the Union of South Africa when Elizabeth became queen.Reference
Following a referendum, South Africa abolished the monarchy on 31 May 1961, becoming the Republic of South Africa. Verwoerd remained in office as the republic's first prime minister until 6 September 1966.
Tanganyika
became independent on 9 December 1961, with Julius Nyerere as its first prime minister. Nyerere had previously been the prime minister of self-governing Tanganyika''.Reference
Tanganyika abolished the monarchy on 9 December 1962. The post of prime minister was abolished.
Trinidad and Tobago
became independent on 31 August 1962, with Eric Williams as its first prime minister. Williams had previously been Chief Minister and Premier of Trinidad and Tobago.Reference
Trinidad and Tobago abolished the monarchy on 1 August 1976. Williams remained in office as the republic's first prime minister until 29 March 1981.
Uganda
became independent on 9 October 1962 with Milton Obote as the first prime minister. Obote had previously been the prime minister of self-governing Uganda.Reference
Uganda abolished the monarchy on 9 October 1963. Obote remained in office as the republic's first prime minister until 15 April 1966.