Earlier this week it was reported that Commonwealth leaders would be meeting this week to discuss who should take over from the Queen in the event of her death. Now, Queen Elizabeth II herself has made it clear that she wants her son, Prince Charles, to take on the role next.
But what exactly does the Head of the Commonwealth do, and who is eligible for the role?
The role of Head of the Commonwealth is mostly symbolic.
As the Commonwealth's website sets out, "the role carries no formal functions, but has great symbolic significance and has helped to underline the sense of the Commonwealth as a family of nations."
Queen Elizabeth II herself made it clear that "The Commonwealth bears no resemblance to the empires of the past. It is an entirely new conception built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man: friendship, loyalty, and the desire for freedom and peace."
And the royal family's website proclaims the Commonwealth itself as an "international organization, spanning every geographical region, religion and culture. It exists to foster international co-operation and trade links between people all over the world." It's been in existence for over 60 years, and includes 53 countries, most of "which were formerly under British rule."
But it includes several official duties.
As the Commonwealth website reveals, Queen Elizabeth II currently has a number of official duties as Head of the Commonwealth, including holding "discussions with Commonwealth leaders," delivering "a Commonwealth Day broadcast," and visiting the majority of Commonwealth countries, not only the ones of which she is also head of state.
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The role is not hereditary.
Prince Charles won't automatically be given the role upon the Queen's death. Instead, all of the leaders will meet to decide the most suitable candidate, which could either be a member of the royal family, or perhaps even a politician or head of state.
The British Prime Minister's Office confirmed this week that "succession is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole to determine. If any discussion did take place it would happen at the leaders' retreat at Windsor on Friday." Reiterating the importance of a unanimous decision, the Office stated, "decisions in the Commonwealth are made by consensus." It's important that all leaders of Commonwealth countries have a say in the matter.
The Queen wants Prince to take over.
Daily Mail called the Queen's words unusual, as a monarch apparently doesn't usually try to sway public opinion on the matter. However, Queen Elizabeth II has made it clear that it's her "sincere wish" for Prince Charles to "carry on the important work started by my father in 1949."
Britain's Prime Minister has endorsed Prince Charles for the role.
Prime Minister Theresa May's office recently announced that Prince Charles has been a "proud supporter of the Commonwealth for four decades and has spoken passionately about the organization’s unique diversity," making him an ideal candidate for the role.
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Similarly, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, endorsed Prince Charles for the role at an event in London on Thursday. He said (via Reuters), "I very much agree with the wishes of her majesty that the Prince of Wales be the next head of the Commonwealth."
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Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.
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