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| Prince Charles to succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth | Prince Charles to succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Commonwealth leaders have approved Prince Charles to take over from the Queen as the next head of the organisation, sources say. | Commonwealth leaders have approved Prince Charles to take over from the Queen as the next head of the organisation, sources say. |
| The decision was made by the 53 leaders on a retreat at Windsor Castle, but will not be confirmed until a press conference later today. | The decision was made by the 53 leaders on a retreat at Windsor Castle, but will not be confirmed until a press conference later today. |
| The backing for the Prince of Wales appeared inevitable from the moment that the 91-year-old Queen made a personal request for her son to succeed her, on Thursday. | The backing for the Prince of Wales appeared inevitable from the moment that the 91-year-old Queen made a personal request for her son to succeed her, on Thursday. |
| However, some have opposed it, arguing the role is not hereditary and it would be better to rotate it between countries in the Commonwealth. | However, some have opposed it, arguing the role is not hereditary and it would be better to rotate it between countries in the Commonwealth. |
| On Thursday, Prince Charles himself made an informal pitch to take over the leadership, making clear his commitment to the organisation. “For my part, the Commonwealth has been a fundamental feature of my life for as long as I can remember,” he told the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). | |
| And Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, had said he agreed “very much” with the Queen’s wishes. | And Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, had said he agreed “very much” with the Queen’s wishes. |
| The Queen had told the leaders: “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 will carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.” | The Queen had told the leaders: “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 will carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.” |
| Theresa May confirmed the decision to appoint Prince Charles as head of the Commonwealth. | |
| Speaking at a press conference to mark the end of CHOGM, she said: "Today we have agreed that the next head of the Commonwealth shall be His Royal Highness Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales. | |
| Meanwhile, Boris Johnson threw Britain’s weight behind a future attempt by Zimbabwe to rejoin the Commonwealth, following the end of Robert Mugabe’s rule. | Meanwhile, Boris Johnson threw Britain’s weight behind a future attempt by Zimbabwe to rejoin the Commonwealth, following the end of Robert Mugabe’s rule. |
| The foreign secretary said that July’s elections were a “bellwether” for the African nation following Mr Mugabe’s replacement by Emmerson Mnangagwa in November. | The foreign secretary said that July’s elections were a “bellwether” for the African nation following Mr Mugabe’s replacement by Emmerson Mnangagwa in November. |
| After meeting Zimbabwe’s foreign minister Sibusiso Moyo in London, Mr Johnson said Zimbabwe would need to undertake political and economic reform following decades of one-party rule. | After meeting Zimbabwe’s foreign minister Sibusiso Moyo in London, Mr Johnson said Zimbabwe would need to undertake political and economic reform following decades of one-party rule. |