The Commonwealth is an international organisation with voluntary participation - which can therefore be abandoned at any time - to which most of the former British colonies belong. To put it simply, it is a kind of private club between nations with a strong historical (and economic) link with the United Kingdom and at the top of which there is the King or Queen of England, therefore Charles III, after the death of Elizabeth II.The term "common wealth" was introduced as early as the 17th century to designate the British state after the revolution.The Commonwealth of Nations ("Community of Nations") currently includes 56 very different countries (although the historical heritage of British culture has many common traits) but they work together to promote human rights (fight against poverty, efforts to protect health, etc.), democracy, culture and freedom.