Yahoo News Prince Charles 'to succeed Queen as head of Commonwealth'
The Prince of Wales is set to be named the next head of the Commonwealth after the Queen.
According to the BBC, Commonwealth leaders are thought to have agreed behind closed doors that he will take over the non-hereditary role from the Queen at some point.
It was widely reported that the role might have been shared among the 53 Commonwealth leaders.
Yesterday, the Queen told Commonwealth leaders gathered at Buckingham Palace for the opening of the major summit that she hopes they will choose the Prince of Wales to succeed her.
She told the heads of state from across the globe: “It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity to future generations, and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.”
Prince Charles added: “I pray that this Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will not only revitalise the bonds between our countries, but will also give the Commonwealth a renewed relevance to all citizens, finding practical solutions to their problems and giving life to their aspirations.
“By doing so, the Commonwealth can be a cornerstone for the lives of future generations, just as it has been for so many of us.”
A host of royals were also present at the formal opening of the summit by the Queen including the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
What does the head of the Commonwealth do?
The head of the Commonwealth is a largely symbolic post with no real powers. The head’s main role is to officially open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a gathering of Commonwealth leaders, usually held every two years, where presidents and prime ministers discuss important issues of the moment.
How did the role evolve?
The modern Commonwealth was established by the London Declaration of 1949, just two years after India and Pakistan were granted independence. The London Declaration said the British monarch would be a symbol of the free association of independent countries, and as such the head of the Commonwealth. This meant republics could be members and accept the sovereign as head of the Commonwealth without him or her being their own head of state.
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Why did the Queen speak out in favour of the Prince of Wales succeeding her as Commonwealth Head?
The position is not automatically held by the British monarch and there has been speculation for a number of years about whether Charles would succeed the Queen, who has been head of the Commonwealth since coming to the throne in 1952. Ultimately it was up to the leaders to decide, so the Queen’s direct and personal appeal to them to adopt her son as their next head was taken seriously.
Why is the post important?
As the figurehead of an institution representing 53 member states with a combined population of 2.4 billion people, the head should embody the values of the Commonwealth. But the head’s real job is to act as a unifying force or convener, drawing together and binding the leaders from Britain’s former empire under the Commonwealth banner. If they do not respect or have faith in their head, maintaining unity on issues would be a problem.
Does Charles have the credentials for the job?
The prince has been conducting his own subtle diplomacy in recent years, talking about his passion for the Commonwealth and highlighting the achievements of his charities working in Commonwealth countries. His extensive travels during his lifetime have taken him to dozens of nations within the Commonwealth, so he has knowledge of the people and the issues they face.
