British Empire

Singapore used to part of the British Empire.

At the start of the 20th century, the British Empire covered one quarter of the globe, all governed directly or indirectly from London.

Most parts of the former Empire, including Singapore, now belong to the Commonwealth of Nations, or "The Commonwealth" for short, a much looser grouping which retains the Queen of England as its symbolic figurehead, even though many members of the Commonwealth are Republics, like Singapore.