LONDON (AP) – Queen Elizabeth II has opened a summit of the 53-nation Commonwealth, and backed her son Prince Charles to be the next leader of the association of Britain and its former colonies.
In a ceremony Thursday at Buckingham Palace, the queen said she hoped Charles would “carry on the important work” of leading the Commonwealth.
The queen has no designated successor as Commonwealth chief, and some have suggested Charles should not take over.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles arrive for the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday April 19, 2018. (Jonathan Brady/Pool via AP)
British Prime Minister Theresa May praised the queen for being “the Commonwealth’s most steadfast and fervent champion” over her 66-year reign.
Leaders from countries from vast India to tiny Tuvalu will spend two days meeting in London and at Windsor Castle west of the city. The agenda includes protecting the world’s oceans and helping small states boost cybersecurity.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, takes a selfie with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, center, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at City Hall in London, Wednesday April 18, 2018, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second from right, meets with Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, second from left,, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, right, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the National Cyber Security Center in London, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,left, meets with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in London, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Trudeau is in London to take part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, left, speaks with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during bilateral talks at Downing Street, in London, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Trudeau is in London to take part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting starting Thursday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
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