The islands of ‘New Guinea’ were colonised by the British and Dutch and since then have seen a number of ‘occupiers’ including Australia, Germany and Japan which saw the islands split into a number of territories.

The territories were combined after the Second World War and became independent in 1975.

Following fighting between separatists and government forces on the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville in 1989, the island was given greater autonomy in 1998 and a referendum on independence is to take place in 2009.

The Queen is Head of State in Papua New Guinea, and is represented by a Governor-General, who carries out the duties of Head of State.

Unlike other Commonwealth realms, the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea is nominated by the country's Parliament, rather than by its Prime Minister, as is the convention elsewhere.

The present Governor-General is the Right Honourable Sir Paulias Matane GCL GCMG OBE.