List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II facts for kids

Queen Elizabeth II with leaders from different Commonwealth countries in 1960.

When Elizabeth II became Queen on February 6, 1952, she was the head of state for 32 independent countries. By the time she passed away, this number was 15. These countries are known as Commonwealth realms. In each of these realms, the Queen's government was led by a prime minister. The Queen, or her special representative called a Governor-General, had the power to choose or remove prime ministers.

During her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II saw 179 different people serve as prime ministers in her realms. The first new prime minister she appointed was Dudley Senanayake in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The very last was Liz Truss in the United Kingdom, whom she appointed just two days before her death. Some of these leaders served as prime minister more than once.

This article focuses only on countries that were Commonwealth realms during Queen Elizabeth II's time. It does not include countries that were never realms or leaders in colonies or smaller regions.

Prime Ministers in Commonwealth Realms

Antigua and Barbuda: A New Nation's Leaders

Antigua and Barbuda became an independent country on November 1, 1981. Its first prime minister was Vere Bird. He had already been the leader of Antigua before its independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Vere Bird	1910–1999	November 1, 1981	March 9, 1994
2		Lester Bird	1938–2021	March 9, 1994	August 24, 2004
3		Baldwin Spencer	b. 1948	August 24, 2004	June 13, 2014
4		Gaston Browne	b. 1967	June 13, 2014	Still in office

Australia: Leaders Under the Crown

Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies during her first visit to Australia in 1954.

Robert Menzies was the Prime Minister of Australia when Queen Elizabeth II began her reign.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Robert Menzies	1894–1978	December 19, 1949	January 26, 1966
2		Harold Holt	1908–1967	January 26, 1966	December 19, 1967
3		John McEwen	1900–1980	December 19, 1967	January 10, 1968
4		John Gorton	1911–2002	January 10, 1968	March 10, 1971
5		William McMahon	1908–1988	March 10, 1971	December 5, 1972
6		Gough Whitlam	1916–2014	December 5, 1972	November 11, 1975
7		Malcolm Fraser	1930–2015	November 11, 1975	March 11, 1983
8		Bob Hawke	1929–2019	March 11, 1983	December 20, 1991
9		Paul Keating	b. 1944	December 20, 1991	March 11, 1996
10		John Howard	b. 1939	March 11, 1996	December 3, 2007
11		Kevin Rudd	b. 1957	December 3, 2007	June 24, 2010
12		Julia Gillard	b. 1961	June 24, 2010	June 27, 2013
(11)		Kevin Rudd	b. 1957	June 27, 2013	September 18, 2013
13		Tony Abbott	b. 1957	September 18, 2013	September 15, 2015
14		Malcolm Turnbull	b. 1954	September 15, 2015	August 24, 2018
15		Scott Morrison	b. 1968	August 24, 2018	May 23, 2022
16		Anthony Albanese	b. 1963	May 23, 2022	Still in office

The Bahamas: From Colony to Commonwealth Realm

The Bahamas gained independence on July 10, 1973. Lynden Pindling became its first prime minister. He had already been the prime minister when the Bahama Islands were self-governing.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Lynden Pindling	1930–2000	July 10, 1973	August 21, 1992
2		Hubert Ingraham	b. 1947	August 21, 1992	May 3, 2002
3		Perry Christie	b. 1943	May 3, 2002	May 4, 2007
(2)		Hubert Ingraham	b. 1947	May 4, 2007	May 8, 2012
(3)		Perry Christie	b. 1943	May 8, 2012	May 11, 2017
4		Hubert Minnis	b. 1954	May 11, 2017	September 17, 2021
5		Philip Davis	b. 1951	September 17, 2021	Still in office

Barbados: A Republic's Journey

Barbados became independent on November 30, 1966. Errol Barrow was its first prime minister, having served as Premier before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Errol Barrow	1920–1987	November 30, 1966	September 8, 1976
2		Tom Adams	1931–1985	September 8, 1976	March 11, 1985
3		Harold Bernard St. John	1931–2004	March 11, 1985	May 29, 1986
(1)		Errol Barrow	1920–1987	May 29, 1986	June 1, 1987
4		Lloyd Erskine Sandiford	1937–2023	June 1, 1987	September 7, 1994
5		Owen Arthur	1945–2020	September 7, 1994	January 16, 2008
6		David Thompson	1961–2010	January 16, 2008	October 23, 2010
7		Freundel Stuart	b. 1951	October 23, 2010	May 25, 2018
8		Mia Mottley	b. 1965	May 25, 2018	Still in office

Barbados decided to become a republic on November 30, 2021, meaning the Queen was no longer their head of state. Mia Mottley continued to serve as the country's first prime minister as a republic.

Belize: A Central American Nation's Leaders

Belize became independent on September 21, 1981. George Cadle Price was its first prime minister, having been Premier before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		George Cadle Price	1919–2011	September 21, 1981	December 17, 1984
2		Manuel Esquivel	1940–2022	December 17, 1984	November 7, 1989
(1)		George Cadle Price	1919–2011	November 7, 1989	July 3, 1993
(2)		Manuel Esquivel	1940–2022	July 3, 1993	August 28, 1998
3		Said Musa	b. 1944	August 28, 1998	February 8, 2008
4		Dean Barrow	b. 1951	February 8, 2008	November 12, 2020
5		Johnny Briceño	b. 1960	November 12, 2020	Still in office

Canada: North American Leaders

Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and John Diefenbaker at Expo 67 in Montreal, Quebec.

Louis St. Laurent was the Prime Minister of Canada when Queen Elizabeth II became Queen.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Louis St. Laurent	1882–1973	November 15, 1948	June 21, 1957
2		John Diefenbaker	1895–1979	June 21, 1957	April 22, 1963
3		Lester B. Pearson	1897–1972	April 22, 1963	April 20, 1968
4		Pierre Trudeau	1919–2000	April 20, 1968	June 4, 1979
5		Joe Clark	b. 1939	June 4, 1979	March 3, 1980
(4)		Pierre Trudeau	1919–2000	March 3, 1980	June 30, 1984
6		John Turner	1929–2020	June 30, 1984	September 17, 1984
7		Brian Mulroney	1939–2024	September 17, 1984	June 25, 1993
8		Kim Campbell	b. 1947	June 25, 1993	November 4, 1993
9		Jean Chrétien	b. 1934	November 4, 1993	December 12, 2003
10		Paul Martin	b. 1938	December 12, 2003	February 6, 2006
11		Stephen Harper	b. 1959	February 6, 2006	November 4, 2015
12		Justin Trudeau	b. 1971	November 4, 2015	Still in office

Ceylon (Sri Lanka): A Shift to Republic

D. S. Senanayake was the prime minister of Ceylon when Queen Elizabeth II became Queen.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		D. S. Senanayake	1883–1952	September 24, 1947	March 22, 1952
2		Dudley Senanayake	1911–1973	March 26, 1952	October 12, 1953
3		John Kotelawala	1895–1980	October 12, 1953	April 12, 1956
4		S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike	1899–1959	April 12, 1956	September 26, 1959
5		Wijeyananda Dahanayake	1901–1997	September 26, 1959	March 20, 1960
(2)		Dudley Senanayake	1911–1973	March 21, 1960	July 21, 1960
6		Sirimavo Bandaranaike	1916–2000	July 21, 1960	March 27, 1965
(2)		Dudley Senanayake	1911–1973	March 27, 1965	May 29, 1970
(6)		Sirimavo Bandaranaike	1916–2000	May 29, 1970	July 23, 1977

Ceylon became the Republic of Sri Lanka on May 22, 1972, and was no longer a Commonwealth realm. Bandaranaike stayed on as the republic's first prime minister.

Fiji: A Nation's Changing Status

Fiji became independent on October 10, 1970. Kamisese Mara was its first prime minister, having been Chief Minister before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Kamisese Mara	1920–2004	October 10, 1970	April 13, 1987
2		Timoci Bavadra	1934–1989	April 13, 1987	May 14, 1987

After some political changes in 1987, Fiji declared itself a republic on October 7, 1987. This meant it was no longer a Commonwealth realm.

The Gambia: Becoming a Republic

The Gambia became independent on February 18, 1965. Dawda Jawara was its first prime minister, having been prime minister of the self-governing Gambia before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Dawda Jawara	1924–2019	March 6, 1965	April 24, 1970

The Gambia became a republic on April 24, 1970, after a public vote. Jawara became the President of The Gambia, and the role of prime minister was removed.

Ghana: A New African Nation

Ghana became independent on August 15, 1957. Kwame Nkrumah was its first prime minister. He had been prime minister of the Gold Coast before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Kwame Nkrumah	1909–1972	August 15, 1957	July 1, 1960

Ghana became a republic on July 1, 1960, after a public vote. Nkrumah became the President of Ghana, and the prime minister role was removed.

Grenada: Leaders and Political Changes

Grenada became independent on February 7, 1974. Eric Gairy was its first prime minister, having been Premier before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Eric Gairy	1922–1997	February 7, 1974	March 13, 1979
2		Maurice Bishop	1944–1983	March 13, 1979	October 19, 1983
3		Herbert Blaize	1918–1989	December 4, 1984	December 19, 1989
4		Ben Jones	1924–2005	December 19, 1989	March 16, 1990
5		Nicholas Brathwaite	1925–2016	March 16, 1990	February 1, 1995
6		George Brizan	1942–2012	February 1, 1995	June 22, 1995
7		Keith Mitchell	b. 1946	June 22, 1995	July 9, 2008
8		Tillman Thomas	b. 1947	July 9, 2008	February 20, 2013
(7)		Keith Mitchell	b. 1946	February 20, 2013	June 24, 2022
9		Dickon Mitchell	b. 1978	June 24, 2022	Still in office

Guyana: A South American Republic

Guyana became independent on May 26, 1966. Forbes Burnham was its first prime minister, having been Premier of British Guiana before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Forbes Burnham	1923–1985	May 26, 1966	October 6, 1980

Guyana became a republic on February 23, 1970. Burnham remained the prime minister of the republic.

Jamaica: Caribbean Independence

Jamaica became independent on August 6, 1962. Alexander Bustamante was its first prime minister, having been Premier before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Alexander Bustamante	1884–1977	August 6, 1962	February 23, 1967
2		Donald Sangster	1911–1967	February 23, 1967	April 11, 1967
3		Hugh Shearer	1923–2004	April 11, 1967	March 2, 1972
4		Michael Manley	1924–1997	March 2, 1972	November 1, 1980
5		Edward Seaga	1930–2019	November 1, 1980	February 10, 1989
(4)		Michael Manley	1924–1997	February 10, 1989	March 30, 1992
6		P. J. Patterson	b. 1935	March 30, 1992	March 30, 2006
7		Portia Simpson-Miller	b. 1945	March 30, 2006	September 11, 2007
8		Bruce Golding	b. 1947	September 11, 2007	October 23, 2011
9		Andrew Holness	b. 1972	October 23, 2011	January 5, 2012
(7)		Portia Simpson-Miller	b. 1945	January 5, 2012	March 3, 2016
(9)		Andrew Holness	b. 1972	March 3, 2016	Still in office

Kenya: An East African Republic

Kenya became independent on December 12, 1963. Jomo Kenyatta became its first prime minister, having been prime minister of self-governing Kenya before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Jomo Kenyatta	1891–1978	December 12, 1963	December 12, 1964

Kenya became a republic on December 12, 1964. Kenyatta became the President of Kenya, and the prime minister role was removed.

Malawi: Independence in Southern Africa

Malawi became independent on July 6, 1964. Hastings Banda was its prime minister, having been prime minister of Nyasaland before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Hastings Banda	1898–1997	July 6, 1964	July 6, 1966

Malawi became a republic on July 6, 1966. Banda became the President of Malawi, and the prime minister role was removed.

Malta: An Island Nation's Leaders

The Crown Colony of Malta became independent as the State of Malta on September 21, 1964. George Borg Olivier was its prime minister, having been the colony's prime minister before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		George Borg Olivier	1911–1980	September 21, 1964	June 21, 1971
2		Dom Mintoff	1916–2012	June 21, 1971	December 22, 1984

Malta became a republic on December 13, 1974. Mintoff remained the prime minister of the new republic.

Mauritius: Independence in the Indian Ocean

Mauritius became independent on March 12, 1968. Seewoosagur Ramgoolam became its first prime minister, having been Chief Minister before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Seewoosagur Ramgoolam	1900–1985	March 12, 1968	June 30, 1982
2		Anerood Jugnauth	1930–2021	June 30, 1982	December 15, 1995

Mauritius became a republic on March 12, 1992. Jugnauth remained the prime minister of the republic.

New Zealand: Pacific Leaders

The Queen with Sidney Holland during her visit to New Zealand in 1953.

Sidney Holland was the prime minister when Queen Elizabeth II became Queen.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Sidney Holland	1893–1961	December 13, 1949	September 20, 1957
2		Keith Holyoake	1904–1983	September 20, 1957	December 12, 1957
3		Walter Nash	1882–1968	December 12, 1957	December 12, 1960
(2)		Keith Holyoake	1904–1983	December 12, 1960	February 7, 1972
4		Jack Marshall	1912–1988	February 7, 1972	December 8, 1972
5		Norman Kirk	1923–1974	December 8, 1972	August 31, 1974†
N/A		Hugh Watt Acting prime minister	1912–1980	August 31, 1974	September 6, 1974
6		Bill Rowling	1927–1995	September 6, 1974	December 12, 1975
7		Robert Muldoon	1921–1992	December 12, 1975	July 26, 1984
8		David Lange	1942–2005	July 26, 1984	August 8, 1989
9		Geoffrey Palmer	b. 1942	August 8, 1989	September 4, 1990
10		Mike Moore	1949–2020	September 4, 1990	November 2, 1990
11		Jim Bolger	b. 1935	November 2, 1990	December 8, 1997
12		Jenny Shipley	b. 1952	December 8, 1997	December 5, 1999
13		Helen Clark	b. 1950	December 5, 1999	November 19, 2008
14		John Key	b. 1961	November 19, 2008	December 12, 2016
15		Bill English	b. 1961	December 12, 2016	October 26, 2017
16		Jacinda Ardern	b. 1980	October 26, 2017	January 25, 2023

Nigeria: West African Independence

The Federation of Nigeria became independent on October 1, 1960. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became its first prime minister. He had been Chief Minister before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Abubakar Tafawa Balewa	1912–1966	October 1, 1960	January 15, 1966

Nigeria became a republic on October 1, 1963. Balewa remained the prime minister until his death in 1966.

Pakistan: A South Asian Republic

Khawaja Nazimuddin was the prime minister when Queen Elizabeth II became Queen.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Khawaja Nazimuddin	1894–1964	October 17, 1951	April 17, 1953
2		Mohammad Ali Bogra	1909–1963	April 17, 1953	August 12, 1955
3		Chaudhry Muhammad Ali	1905–1982	August 12, 1955	September 12, 1956

Pakistan became a republic on March 23, 1956. Ali remained the prime minister of the new republic.

Papua New Guinea: Pacific Island Leaders

Papua New Guinea became independent on September 16, 1975. Michael Somare was its first prime minister, having been Chief Minister before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Michael Somare	1936–2021	September 16, 1975	March 11, 1980
2		Julius Chan	b. 1939	March 11, 1980	August 2, 1982
(1)		Michael Somare	1936–2021	August 2, 1982	November 21, 1985
3		Paias Wingti	b. 1951	November 21, 1985	July 4, 1988
4		Rabbie Namaliu	b. 1947	July 4, 1988	July 17, 1992
(3)		Paias Wingti	b. 1951	July 17, 1992	August 30, 1994
(2)		Julius Chan	b. 1939	August 30, 1994	March 27, 1997
N/A		John Giheno Acting prime minister	1950–2017	March 27, 1997	June 2, 1997
(2)		Julius Chan	b. 1939	June 2, 1997	July 22, 1997
5		Bill Skate	1953–2006	July 22, 1997	July 14, 1999
6		Mekere Morauta	1946–2020	July 14, 1999	August 5, 2002
(1)		Michael Somare	1936–2021	August 5, 2002	August 2, 2011 / August 3, 2012
7		Peter O'Neill	b. 1965	August 2, 2011 / August 3, 2012	May 30, 2019
8		James Marape	b. 1971	May 30, 2019	Still in office

Saint Kitts and Nevis: Small Island, Big Role

Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent on September 19, 1983. Kennedy Simmonds was its first prime minister, having been Premier before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Kennedy Simmonds	b. 1936	September 19, 1983	July 7, 1995
2		Denzil Douglas	b. 1953	July 7, 1995	February 18, 2015
3		Timothy Harris	b. 1964	February 18, 2015	August 6, 2022
4		Terrance Drew	b. 1976	August 6, 2022	Still in office

Saint Lucia: Caribbean Leadership

Saint Lucia became independent on February 22, 1979. John Compton was its first prime minister, having been Premier before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		John Compton	1925–2007	February 22, 1979	July 2, 1979
2		Allan Louisy	1916–2011	July 2, 1979	May 4, 1981
3		Winston Cenac	1925–2004	May 4, 1981	January 17, 1982
N/A		Michael Pilgrim Acting prime minister	b. 1947	January 17, 1982	May 3, 1982
(1)		John Compton	1925–2007	May 3, 1982	April 2, 1996
4		Vaughan Lewis	b. 1940	April 2, 1996	May 24, 1997
5		Kenny Anthony	b. 1951	May 24, 1997	December 15, 2006
(1)		John Compton	1925–2007	December 15, 2006	September 7, 2007
6		Stephen King	b. 1958	September 7, 2007	November 30, 2011
(5)		Kenny Anthony	b. 1951	November 30, 2011	June 7, 2016
7		Allen Chastanet	b. 1960	June 7, 2016	July 28, 2021
8		Philip Pierre	b. 1954	July 28, 2021	Still in office

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Island Nation's Leaders

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became independent on October 27, 1979. Milton Cato was its first prime minister, having been Premier before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Milton Cato	1915–1997	October 27, 1979	July 30, 1984
2		James Fitz-Allen Mitchell	1931–2021	July 30, 1984	October 27, 2000
3		Arnhim Eustace	b. 1944	October 27, 2000	March 29, 2001
4		Ralph Gonsalves	b. 1946	March 29, 2001	Still in office

Sierra Leone: West African Political Shifts

Sierra Leone became independent on April 27, 1961. Milton Margai was its first prime minister, having been Prime Minister before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Milton Margai	1895–1964	April 27, 1961	April 28, 1964
2		Albert Margai	1910–1980	April 28, 1964	March 21, 1967
3		Siaka Stevens	1905–1988	April 28, 1967	April 21, 1971

Sierra Leone became a republic on April 19, 1971. Stevens became the President of Sierra Leone, and the prime minister role was later removed.

Solomon Islands: Pacific Independence

The Solomon Islands became independent on July 7, 1978. Peter Kenilorea was its first prime minister.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Peter Kenilorea	1943–2016	July 7, 1978	August 31, 1981
2		Solomon Mamaloni	1943–2000	August 31, 1981	November 19, 1984
(1)		Peter Kenilorea	1943–2016	November 19, 1984	December 1, 1986
3		Ezekiel Alebua	1947–2022	December 1, 1986	March 28, 1989
(2)		Solomon Mamaloni	1943–2000	March 28, 1989	June 18, 1993
4		Francis Billy Hilly	b. 1948	June 18, 1993	November 7, 1994
(2)		Solomon Mamaloni	1943–2000	November 7, 1994	August 27, 1997
5		Bartholomew Ulufa'alu	1950–2007	August 27, 1997	June 30, 2000
6		Manasseh Sogavare	b. 1955	June 30, 2000	December 17, 2001
7		Allan Kemakeza	b. 1950	December 17, 2001	April 20, 2006
8		Snyder Rini	b. 1949	April 20, 2006	May 4, 2006
(6)		Manasseh Sogavare	b. 1955	May 4, 2006	December 20, 2007
9		Derek Sikua	b. 1959	December 20, 2007	August 25, 2010
10		Danny Philip	b. 1953	August 25, 2010	November 16, 2011
11		Gordon Darcy Lilo	b. 1965	November 16, 2011	December 9, 2014
(6)		Manasseh Sogavare	b. 1955	December 9, 2014	November 15, 2017
12		Rick Houenipwela	b. 1958	November 15, 2017	April 24, 2019
(6)		Manasseh Sogavare	b. 1955	April 24, 2019	May 2, 2024

South Africa: A Republic's Beginning

Daniel François Malan was the prime minister of the Union of South Africa when Queen Elizabeth II became Queen.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Daniel François Malan	1874–1959	June 4, 1948	November 30, 1954
2		Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom	1893–1958	November 30, 1954	August 24, 1958
3		Hendrik Verwoerd	1901–1966	August 24, 1958	September 6, 1966†

South Africa became a republic on May 31, 1961, after a public vote. Verwoerd remained the prime minister of the new republic.

Tanganyika: East African Independence

Tanganyika became independent on December 9, 1961. Julius Nyerere was its first prime minister, having been prime minister of self-governing Tanganyika before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Julius Nyerere	1922–1999	December 9, 1961	January 22, 1962
2		Rashidi Kawawa	1926–2009	January 22, 1962	December 9, 1962

Tanganyika became a republic on December 9, 1962. The role of prime minister was also removed.

Trinidad and Tobago: Caribbean Republic

Trinidad and Tobago became independent on August 31, 1962. Eric Williams was its first prime minister, having been Chief Minister and Premier before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Eric Williams	1911–1981	August 31, 1962	March 29, 1981

Trinidad and Tobago became a republic on August 1, 1976. Williams remained the prime minister of the new republic.

Tuvalu: Pacific Island Leadership

Tuvalu became independent on October 1, 1978. Toaripi Lauti was its first prime minister, having been Chief Minister before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Toaripi Lauti	1928–2014	October 1, 1978	September 8, 1981
2		Tomasi Puapua	b. 1938	September 8, 1981	October 16, 1989
3		Bikenibeu Paeniu	b. 1956	October 16, 1989	December 10, 1993
4		Kamuta Latasi	b. 1936	December 10, 1993	December 24, 1996
(3)		Bikenibeu Paeniu	b. 1956	December 24, 1996	April 27, 1999
5		Ionatana Ionatana	1938–2000	April 27, 1999	December 8, 2000
N/A		Lagitupu Tuilimu Acting prime minister	N/A	December 8, 2000	February 24, 2001
6		Faimalaga Luka	1940–2005	February 24, 2001	December 14, 2001
7		Koloa Talake	1934–2008	December 14, 2001	August 24, 2002
8		Saufatu Sopoanga	1952–2020	August 24, 2002	August 25, 2004
9		Maatia Toafa	b. 1954	October 11, 2004	August 14, 2006
10		Apisai Ielemia	1955–2018	August 14, 2006	September 29, 2010
(9)		Maatia Toafa	b. 1954	September 29, 2010	December 24, 2010
11		Willy Telavi	b. 1954	December 24, 2010	August 1, 2013
12		Enele Sopoaga	b. 1956	August 5, 2013	September 19, 2019
13		Kausea Natano	b. 1957	September 19, 2019	February 26, 2024

Uganda: East African Nation's Leaders

Uganda became independent on October 9, 1962. Milton Obote was its first prime minister, having been prime minister of self-governing Uganda before independence.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Milton Obote	1925–2005	October 9, 1962	April 15, 1966

Uganda became a republic on October 9, 1963. Obote remained the prime minister of the new republic.

United Kingdom: The Queen's Home Government

Queen Elizabeth II with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former prime ministers John Major, Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan, and Edward Heath during her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Winston Churchill was the prime minister when Elizabeth became Queen.

No	Portrait	Name	Lifespan	Time in Office
				Started	Ended
1		Winston Churchill	1874–1965	October 26, 1951	April 5, 1955
2		Anthony Eden	1897–1977	April 6, 1955	January 9, 1957
3		Harold Macmillan	1894–1986	January 10, 1957	October 18, 1963
4		Alec Douglas-Home	1903–1995	October 19, 1963	October 16, 1964
5		Harold Wilson	1916–1995	October 16, 1964	June 19, 1970
6		Edward Heath	1916–2005	June 19, 1970	March 4, 1974
(5)		Harold Wilson	1916–1995	March 4, 1974	April 5, 1976
7		James Callaghan	1912–2005	April 5, 1976	May 4, 1979
8		Margaret Thatcher	1925–2013	May 4, 1979	November 28, 1990
9		John Major	b. 1943	November 28, 1990	May 2, 1997
10		Tony Blair	b. 1953	May 2, 1997	June 27, 2007
11		Gordon Brown	b. 1951	June 27, 2007	May 11, 2010
12		David Cameron	b. 1966	May 11, 2010	July 13, 2016
13		Theresa May	b. 1956	July 13, 2016	July 24, 2019
14		Boris Johnson	b. 1964	July 24, 2019	September 6, 2022
15		Liz Truss	b. 1975	September 6, 2022	October 25, 2022

Special Cases of Leadership

Grenada's Government Changes (1979–1984)

Maurice Bishop was the main leader of Grenada from March 13, 1979, to October 14, 1983. He was removed from power and later died. After a period of military rule, the prime minister system was brought back on December 4, 1984. The government of Grenada recognizes Bishop as a former prime minister.

Rhodesia's Unrecognized Independence (1965–1970)

Ian Smith was the Prime Minister of Rhodesia after it declared itself independent on November 11, 1965. Rhodesia claimed Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen, but she did not accept this title. The United Kingdom and other countries did not recognize Rhodesia as an independent state. Rhodesia later declared itself a republic on March 2, 1970. Smith remained in power throughout this time.

More to Explore

• Constitutional monarchy
• List of Commonwealth heads of government