Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

The Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

's overseas territory

British overseas territories

The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories of the United Kingdom which, although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself, fall under its jurisdiction. They are remnants of the British Empire that have not acquired independence or have voted to remain British territories...

of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands, known as the South Sandwich...

. The post is held in conjunction with the Governorship of the Falkland Islands

Governor of the Falkland Islands

The Governor of the Falkland Islands is the representative of the British Crown in the Falkland Islands, acting "in Her Majesty's name and on Her Majesty's behalf" as the islands' de facto head of state in the absence of the British monarch...

.

The post was created in 1985 when South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

was split from the Falkland Islands Dependencies

Falkland Islands Dependencies

Falkland Islands Dependencies was the constitutional arrangement for administering the British territories in Sub-Antarctica and Antarctica from 1843 until 1985.-Background:...

to create a new overseas territory. As the territory has no native inhabitants, and the only population is the visiting military garrisons, and scientists from the British Antarctic Survey

British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....

, there was no appointment of a Governor

Governor

A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...

. Instead the post of Commissioner was created, the normal practice for uninhabited territory. The post was to be held by whoever was the current Governor of the Falkland Islands

Governor of the Falkland Islands

, as that is the nearest inhabited overseas territory to SGSSI, and the presence of the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

in the South Atlantic allows the Commissioner to be transported to the territory relatively quickly if necessary.

The Commissioner retains the same powers as a Governor, and is responsible for domestic affairs within the territory. The British Government retains responsibility for defence and international relations. The Commissioner has his own flag for the territory, a Union Flag

Union Flag

The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...

defaced with the territory's coat of arms. The arms were authorised for the Commissioner on 14 February 1992.

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