Prince Charles to lead the Commonwealth

Commonwealth leaders have agreed that Prince Charles will become the next head of the organisation after the Queen, it has emerged, in one of the less surprising diplomatic developments of recent months.

Earlier the BBC reported that it is understood, that the Prince of Wales will be the next head of the Commonwealth.

The Queen was reported that it had said it was her “sincere wish” that Prince Charles would succeed her in the role “one day”.

The BBC reports that the issue was discussed at a meeting behind closed doors at Windsor Castle. The non-hereditary role would not have automatically passed to Prince Charles, with some suggestions it might rotate among the 53 leaders. However, the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale said a source had told the BBC that Commonwealth leaders had agreed the appointment.

Addressing what is most likely her last Chogm summit – she no longer flies long distances and it is not due to return to the UK for some years – the monarch said: “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 should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.”