Photo taken during the Imperial Conference in 1926; King George V is in the middle on the front row. This meeting resulted in the Second Balfour Declaration of 1926, giving the dominions complete independence from the United Kingdom.
A dominion is a fully or partially self-governing part of the British Empire, and later of the British Commonwealth. For states, a dominion status was obtained, the areas were crown colonies, self-governing colonies, or different colonies of previous types.
The term is only used in historical context. Many of the distinctive features that used to prevail only for dominions are now shared by all members of the Commonwealth. Even before, the difference between a dominion and a self-governing colony was minimal. However, Dominion remains the correct term for an independent country that has the British monarch as head of state. Examples include Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Since the 1950s the term has fallen into use and these countries are called Commonwealth realms. Also see
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