Antigua was part of the British Leeward Islands, a British colony, from 1833 to 1960.

In 1967, with Barbuda as a dependency, Antigua became an associated state of the Commonwealth and from that point has been self-governing. In 1981 it achieved full independent status.

The Queen is the Head of State of Antigua and Barbuda whilst the islands elect their own Prime Minister, who runs the Government.