Declaration marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth of Nations. Following the death of King George VI in 1952, the Commonwealth leaders recognised Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth. See also Commonwealth of Nations membership criteria London Declaration (disambiguation) Footnotes History of the Commonwealth of Nations India and the Commonwealth of Nations 1949 in law 1949 in India 1949 in London 1949 in the United Kingdom 1949 in international relations 1949 documents History of the foreign relations of India