A person who is the head of a country even though they may not be in charge of the government

the chief public representative of a country who may also be the head of government

The Sovereign in his or her capacity as the formal head of the New Zealand state. Currently Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of New Zealand.

In the Canadian system of government, the Queen, represented by the governor general, embodies the highest authority.

the Queen is sovereign. The Governor General exercises the Queen's powers as her representative in Canada. The role of the Queen and her representative in Canadian government is essentially ceremonial, except for the Governor General's responsibility to ensure adherence by the Prime Minister to the confidence convention of responsible government.

Head of state or chief of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchic or republican nation-state, federation, commonwealth or any other political state. His or her role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising the political powers, functions and duties granted the head of state in the country's constitution.