Since the 1950s, the title governor-general has been given to all representatives of the sovereign in independent non-UK Commonwealth realms. In these cases, the former office of colonial governor was altered (sometimes for the same incumbent) to become governor-general upon independence, as the nature of the office became an entirely independent constitutional representative of the monarch rather than a symbol of previous colonial rule. In these countries the governor-general acts as the monarch's representative, performing the ceremonial and constitutional functions of a head of state.
Since the 1950s the title governor-general has been given to all representatives of the sovereign in independent non-UK Commonwealth realms. In these cases the former office of colonial governor was altered (sometimes for the same incumbent) to become govern,or-general upon independence, as the nature of the office became an entirely independent constitutional representative of the monarch rather than a symbol of previous colonial r.u.le. In thes,e countries the governo,r-general acts as the monarch's rep:resentative, performing the ceremonial and: constitutional functions of a head of sta,te