Re: Only by marriage?
".... sounds more post-imperial to me"
Governor General is still an effective head of state. They get appointed by the Queen, and act as her direct representative. So in India's case, definitely colonial.
They appoint Prime Ministers and can dismiss them (and aceept their resignations), dissolve parliament and call new elections, refuse a PMs request for an election and refuse to assent to new legislation. They also exercise the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, so seem pretty clearly to be the acting head of state.
In practise they very rarely exercise any of these powers other than the first.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
