The Queen backed the Commonwealth leaders into a corner

In the UK we’re quick to call out nepotism and corruption in other countries. But it seems we’ve become desensitised to nepotism and abuse of office when it comes to our own head of state. The Queen’s very public call for her son to be appointed head of the Commonwealth backed member governments into a corner from where they would have found it difficult to choose a non-royal to succeed her.

The Commonwealth is a deeply flawed club that, despite efforts at modernising, retains an odour of imperialism and British patronage. Changing the titular head would have been a unique opportunity to reimagine the Commonwealth as a union of equals, not a postcolonial hangover where Asians and Africans are still expected to bow to British royals.
Graham Smith
Chief executive officer, Republic

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