Princess Alexandra of Kent represented the Queen at a Thanksgiving Service held in London on Sierra Leone's Independence Day.

[4][5] Later Sir Maurice Dorman, the Governor, was sworn in as the Governor-General, the Queen's representative, by Chief Justice Beoku Betts.

[6] The Queen sent a message to Sierra Leoneans, in which she said: My husband and I are looking forward with pleasure to our own visit to you later this year, but today our thoughts are with you.

You step forward into the councils of the world at a time of rapid change, but I know that Sierra Leone, grounded firmly in her own traditions, will play a worthy part there.

[3]Sierra Leone was one of the realms of the Commonwealth of Nations that shared the same person as Sovereign and head of state.

[11] All laws in Sierra Leone were enacted only with the granting of royal assent, done by the Governor-General on behalf of the sovereign.

[16][17] The monarch, and by extension the governor-general, could also grant immunity from prosecution, exercise the royal prerogative of mercy, and pardon offences against the Crown, either before, during, or after a trial.

[19] Elizabeth II had the following style and titles in her role as the monarch of Sierra Leone: The oath of allegiance in Sierra Leone was: "I, (name), do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors according to law.

But much as our people loved Queen Victoria and have been proud to be loyal subjects of the Crown in succeeding years, it was not by our own choice.

[37] Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, visited Sierra Leone from 25 November to 1 December 1961.

[38] They arrived in Freetown on the royal yacht Britannia, and Queen Elizabeth II Quay was so-named as a result.

The new colours, placed upon piled drums, were blessed by the imam of the Muslim Congress – "In thy holy name, O Allah, most gracious, most merciful" – by the Roman Catholic bishop of Freetown and Bo, by the president of the United Christian Council and by the Anglican bishop of Freetown.

[40] The Queen and the Duke toured several places and attended a number of events, including the Bo Hospital,[46] an agricultural show in Kenema,[40] the iron ore in Marampa,[46] the Sierra Leone Press and Radio,[46] a civic reception by the Freetown City Council,[46] a gathering of chiefs and people at Port Loko,[47] and the Children's Rally and Citizens' Parade in Freetown.

[40] She and her husband also attended a divine service at the St. George's Cathedral in Freetown, where they were received by the Bishop of Sierra Leone.

[49] At a dinner banquet, Prime Minister Milton Margai addressed the Queen and said, "your visit means above everything else that you are more to us than a distant Head of the Commonwealth.

The Queen, speaking of Prime Minister Milton Margai, said, "Sierra Leone can count herself truly fortunate, but while gaining her independence, she has found a leader wise, experienced and devoted to her people".