Queen backs son Charles to take Commonwealth role
LONDON : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held bilateral meetings with leaders of 11 countries here for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting as Queen Elizabeth said she would like to see her son, Prince Charles, succeed her as the group’s head.
Theformalopeningofchogm sessions attended by 53 heads of state or government got off to a royal start at Buckingham Palace. The meeting is expected to be the last hosted or attended by Queen Elizabeth, who turns 92 on Saturday. She became head of the group in 1952 on the death of her father, King George VI.
Addressing the gathering that included Prime Minister Theresa May, dignitaries and members of the royal family, the queen said it was her “sincere wish” that Prince Charles takes over as the head to offer stability and continuity for future generations. Her remarks were seen as an answer to some who argue the position should be 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.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Modi held talks Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The opening at Buckingham Palace included a 53-gun salute, guards of honour and the playing of drums and dhols. The master of ceremonies was Indian-origin BBC journalist and presenter Reeta Chakrabarti and the performers included vocalist Ranjana Ghatak.
May, representing Britain that takes over as the Commonwealth chair for the next two years, thanked the queen for her contributions to the organisation over the decades, and for opening “your homes to us, here in London and Windsor”.
She said: “Over many years, you have been the Commonwealth’s most steadfast and fervent champion. You have been true to the deepest values of the Commonwealth.”