General Discussion

OK, when I speak, I speak as an ardent Anglophile/Australophile/Canadaphile/Kiwiphile (those terms sound creepy, eh?).

First, the Empire hasn't really existed as such since the 1931 Statute of Westminster, when the Dominions were granted self-government; that's when the term "British Commonwealth" came into use. In the Second World War, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa declared war independently of the UK. Canada did so a week after the UK.

Second, decolonisation was rapid after the Second World War. I would put Indian independence as a Republic within the Commonwealth as a tipping point. Much of the Empire in Africa became independent.

Third, South Africa, one of the "charter Dominions," became a Republic outside the Commonwealth in 1961 because of their odious Apartheid policy.

The Commonwealth is a valuable "family of nations" today, even if a lot of people in Britain itself (younger ones mostly) don't even know what it is. A British friend of mine was surprised to see the Queen's image on Canadian currency, and this was back in the '90s.

There is still an Empire: the Falkland Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar, etc. They are different to the Commonwealth Realms as they are largely ruled from London.

I would put Australia's status as similar to Canada (Quebec aside) and New Zealand as being "children" of the Empire and "grown-ups" in the Commonwealth.

Cheers!