The Queen endorsed her son, Prince Charles, as future leader at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
Prince Charles will be next head of Commonwealth in honour Queen’s ‘sincere wish’
Leaders of Commonwealth on Friday voted in favour of Queen’s ‘sincere wish’ “that the Commonwealth will decide that one day the Prince of Wales will carry on the important work started by my father”.
The leaders have voted for Prince Charles to succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth.
The heir to the throne was given the backing of the 53 nation body as they met behind closed doors to discuss the move today.
The Queen has filled the role since 1952 – but the position is not automatically given to the monarch.
There had been suggestions the role should rotate around member states as it would be more “democratic”.
A snub for Charles would have been hugely embarrassing, as he is already considered less popular than his son William.
In fact, there have already been calls for the role of King to pass over him and go straight to his son such is the popularity of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
A poll by Prospect Magazine last year showed that a fifth of people would be less supportive of the monarchy if Charles was king.
However the Queen and her hard work has been the glue holding the organisation together, and Charles is seen as the next best thing after she dies.
Many feel however that choosing Charles would be the Commonwealth holding onto one of the few ties that bind the 53 diverse countries together.
But there were some dissenting voices.
Jeremy Corbyn said he thought Charles should not automatically become head of the 53 nation group.
The Queen endorsed her son as future leader at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.