The secretary of state for commonwealth affairs was a British Cabinet minister responsible for dealing with the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

's relations with members of the

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an International organization, international association of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, 56 member states, the vast majo ...

(its former colonies). The minister's department was the Commonwealth Office. The position was created on 1 August 1966 by the merger of the old positions of

secretary of state for commonwealth relations The secretary of state for Commonwealth relations was a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for dealing with the United Kingdom's relations with members of the Commonwealth o ...

and

secretary of state for the colonies The secretary of state for the colonies or colonial secretary was the Cabinet of the United Kingdom's government minister, minister in charge of managing certain parts of the British Empire. The colonial secretary never had responsibility for t ...

. In 1968 the position was merged with that of

secretary of state for foreign affairs Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs may refer to: * Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Spain) *Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (UK) The secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs, also known as the fore ...

to create the new position of secretary of state for foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

Secretaries of state for commonwealth affairs, 1966–1968

Shadow secretaries of state for commonwealth affairs

Commonwealth Affairs Defunct ministerial offices in the United Kingdom 1966 establishments in the United Kingdom 1968 disestablishments in the United Kingdom 1960s in the United Kingdom Ministries established in 1966 {{UK-gov-stub