List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II

Within the Westminster system in each realm, the Queen's government was headed by a prime minister.

Appointment and dismissal of prime ministers were common reserve powers that could be exercised by Elizabeth or her governors-general.

Several of her prime ministers from various realms were appointed for life to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Reference[1] Robert Menzies was the incumbent prime minister when Elizabeth became queen.

Reference[5] Louis St. Laurent was the incumbent prime minister when Elizabeth became queen.

Reference[8] Following the 1987 Fijian coups d'état (which resulted in a vacancy in the premiership until December 1987), on 7 October 1987, the new ruling regime declared the nation to have become the Republic of Fiji.

Jawara became President of the Gambia on the same day as the post of prime minister was abolished.

Nkrumah became President of Ghana on the same day as the post of prime minister was abolished.

Reference[18] The Federation of Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960, with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa becoming the first prime minister.

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.

Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent on 19 September 1983 with Kennedy Simmonds as the first prime minister.

Reference[22] Saint Lucia became independent on 22 February 1979 with John Compton as the first prime minister.

Reference[23] Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became independent on 27 October 1979 with Milton Cato as the first prime minister.

Reference[24] Sierra Leone became independent on 27 April 1961, with Milton Margai as the first prime minister.

Reference[25] 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.

Stevens left the office of prime minister two days later and became President of Sierra Leone.

Reference[27] Daniel François Malan was the incumbent prime minister of the Union of South Africa when Elizabeth became queen.

After the invasion of Grenada by the United States, the pre-revolutionary system of government and the office of Prime Minister were restored on 4 December 1984.

[35] Ian Smith was Prime Minister of Rhodesia following a unilateral declaration of independence on 11 November 1965.

The state remained unrecognised by the United Kingdom and the wider international community.