Queen endorses Prince Charles as future leader of Commonwealth
Queen Elizabeth said yesterday that she hoped her son and heir Prince Charles would take on leadership of the Commonwealth, rather than having it rotated around member states.
“It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949,” she said at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The biennial meeting, taking place in Britain for the first time in 20 years, is seen as a chance for the UK to reconnect with former colonies and revitalise the alliance ahead of Brexit.
Leaders from the 53 nations are expected to discuss ocean conservation, cyber security, trade and the queen’s successor as head of the Commonwealth during the two-day meeting.
A decision on whether Prince Charles will succeed the queen as head of the Commonwealth is expected from the heads of state on Friday, Downing Street has said.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said the issue of plastic waste would be central to the leaders’ agenda. She said she would be rallying countries to follow the UK’s fight against marine plastics, which includes a ban on microbeads and a plan to introduce a deposit return for drink containers.
“The Commonwealth is a unique organisation, with a huge diversity of wildlife, environments and coastlines,” she said.
Mrs May thanked the Queen for hosting the forum, referring to her as a “steadfast and fervent champion” of the Commonwealth.