Prince Charles loves the Commonwealth — he deserves to be its next head

The Prince of Wales is an avid listener of BBC Radio 4’s Today. When his son Harry guest-edited the flagship news show in December, Charles was given time to expound on climate change.

But recently the Beeb was not quite so accommodating. A BBC “exclusive” said the Commonwealth had secretly begun to consider who might succeed the Queen as its head. Charles was far from a shoo-in. Its reporters had seen documents to prove it, it claimed.

Pundits on Today said Charles wasn’t all that keen anyway and that the Commonwealth didn’t mean as much to him as it did to his mother.

It was enough to make him choke on his wholemeal organic toast. Charles has been a vocal and active supporter of the Commonwealth for more than 40 years — albeit in the shadow of his mother. But the Queen, now 91, hasn’t carried out long-haul flights for several years — and now Charles does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to Commonwealth trips.

He is deeply passionate about the organisation that represents 2.3 billion people and 53 nations — a third of the world’s population. “I have long had an instinctive sense of the value of the Commonwealth,” he has said, and spoken of the “pivotal role” the Commonwealth has to play in safeguarding our planet.

This was the kind of vision and leadership expected of a future head of the Commonwealth, stressing that its leaders must listen to the views of the next generation in London next April at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Charles shows his support through official visits, military links, charitable activities and other special events. In April in Brisbane he will open this year’s Commonwealth Games then tour Australia before flying back for the Commonwealth summit.

Since 1969, the Prince has visited 43 Commonwealth countries. Most recently he has led the charge for member island states that face being wiped out by a rise in sea levels with his Blue Economy Development framework initiative. But still some say he is not passionate.

The problem for the monarchy is the position of head is not enshrined in the constitution. It is symbolic, with no formal powers. The Queen has been working hard in private to ensure the Prince of Wales succeeds her as head of the Commonwealth. It is a responsibility she says she has cherished — but it is not one that her son and heir will inherit automatically.

Prince Charles is by no means assured of being the next head of the Commonwealth. He is reliant on Commonwealth leaders wanting him to replace his mother, and other candidates could emerge as potential challengers.

But there is little doubt, after years of distinctive service, that there are few who are better qualified.