The Queen’s wish has been granted as it has been announced that Prince Charles will succeed her as head of the Commonwealth.
The 92 year-old monarch made a public announcement yesterday declaring her desire for the Prince of Wales to take over her role as the head of the 53 member organisation.
The Queen tells Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting #CHOGM2018 she hopes Prince Charles will be her successor “to carry on the important work” https://t.co/AHw2Mk9hz1 pic.twitter.com/Hblo3JhVZJ
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) 19 April 2018
Leaders of the Commonwealth discussed the issue at a meeting behind closed doors at Windsor Castle on Friday. The non-hereditary role would not have automatically passed to Prince Charles, with some suggestions it might rotate among the other leaders, especially as not all of them have the Monarch as their head of state.
Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave a very early backing to Prince Charles.
The role, currently held by the Queen, is largely a symbolic one and carries no maximum fixed term.
It is used to unify the 53 member states and to ensure the core aims of the Commonwealth are fulfilled. These include linking the countries through trade and international co-operation.
The decision over who succeeds the Queen after her death needed to be unanimous.