South Africa: Heads of State: 1910-1961
All Heads of State in the following index are also Heads of State in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and other realms and territories. |
| By the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India [1] |
| 31 May 1910 - 13 May 1927 |
George V [2] |
| By the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India [3] |
| 13 May 1927 - 20 Jan 1936 |
George V |
| 20 Jan 1936 - 11 Dec 1936 |
Edward VIII [4] |
| 11 Dec 1936 - 22 Jun 1948 |
George VI [4] |
| By the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith [5][6] |
| 22 Jun 1948 - 6 Feb 1952 |
George VI |
| By the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith [7] |
| 6 Feb 1952 - 28 May 1953 |
Elizabeth II |
| Queen of South Africa and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth :: Koningin van Suid-Afrika en van Haar ander Koninkryke en Gebiede, Hoof van die Statebond [8] |
| 29 May 1953 - 31 May 1961 |
Elizabeth II |
| |
| [1] |
Also in official, but not statutory use (Dutch): (a) Door Gods genade van het Verenigd Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittanje en Ierland en van de Britse Overzeese Bezittingen, Verdediger van het Geloof, Keizer van Indië; (b) Bij de gratie Gods, van het Verenigde Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittanje en Ierland en van de Britse Bezittingen over de Zeeën Koning, Verdediger van het Geloof, Keizer van Indië; (c) Bij de Gratie Gods van het Verenigde Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittanje en Ierland en van de Britse Overzeese Bezittingen Koning, Verdediger van het Geloof, Keizer van Indië. |
| [2] |
Continues from 6 May 1910, when acceded as By the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India with no role of Head of State for the Union of South Africa. |
| [3] |
Also in official, but not statutory use (Afrikaans): (a) By die Grasie van God Koning van Groot Brittanje, Ierland en die Britse Dominiums Oorsee, Verdediger van die Geloof, Keiser van Indië; (b) By die Grasie Gods van Groot-Brittanje, Ierland en die Britse Dominiums oorsee Koning, Verdediger van die Geloof, Keiser van Indië; (c) Deur Gods Genade, van Groot-Brittanje, Ierland en die Britse Oorseese Geweste Koning, Verdediger van die Geloof, Keiser van Indië. |
| [4] |
The Government of the Union of South Africa did not desire that His Majesty's Declaration of Abdication Act, 1936 (U.K.) should extend to South Africa as part of the law of the Union, and although it assented to its enactment, it passed His Majesty King Edward the Eighth's Abdication Act, 1937, dating the accession of George VI from 10 Dec 1936, which was the date of the Instrument of Abdication by Edward VIII. The date of accession in the United Kingdom was 11 Dec 1936. |
| [5] |
Also in official, but not statutory use (Afrikaans): Deur die Genade van God, van Groot-Brittanje, Ierland en die Britse Oorsese Geweste Koning, Verdediger van die Geloof. |
| [6] |
Retroactively effective from 15 Aug 1947. |
| [7] |
Also in official, but not statutory use (Afrikaans): Deur Gods Genade, van Groot-Brittanje, Ierland en die Britse Oorsese Geweste Koningin, Verdediger van die Geloof. |
| [8] |
The change of the style and titles was effected by the Royal Style and Titles Act, 1953, passed by the Parliament|Parlement of the Union of South Africa (House of Assembly|Volksraad on 20 Feb 1953; Senate|Senaat on 23 Feb 1953, received royal assent on 25 Feb 1953, effective on the date, 29 May 1953, specified by a proclamation issued by the Governor General on 28 May 1953 in Government Gazette, No. 5073, 29 May 1953, p. 1). The Royal Style and Titles Act, 1953, also authorized the use of the style and titles in Latin: "Elizabeth II, Africae Australis regnorumque suorum ceterorum Regina, consortionis populorum Princeps." |
