Queen Elizabeth II hopes for reinvigoration of the Commonwealth
She wishes Prince Charles will carry on the work her father began in 1949
London
QUEEN ELIZABETH II on Thursday expressed hope that her son Prince Charles would carry on the important work of reinvigorating the Commonwealth, as she opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.
She received long and loud applause from the leaders of the 53 Commonwealth countries in a demonstration of their gratitude for her service to the network she has headed since 1952.
Succession to her role in the Commonwealth, which is not hereditary, is said to be one of the topics for discussion at this year's biennial gathering, which is expected to be the last the monarch will attend. At 92, she has cut down on long-haul travels.
Speaking before the Queen, Prince Charles, 69, described the Commonwealth as a fundamental feature of his life for as long as he could remember, starting with his first visit to Malta when he was five years old.
The Prince of Wales added that he had been fortunate over the years to meet and talk with "so many giants of the Commonwealth" including Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, the father of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Britain is hosting the summit for the fourth time. The famed April showers gave London a miss as the leaders, including Mr Lee, arrived at Buckingham Palace.
A guard of honour, regimental band and flag bearers welcomed them as they streamed into the ballroom in their formal suits and colourful national costumes.
The Queen, dressed in a turquoise ensemble, arrived at 10.10am and in her welcome address, said:
"Having on so many occasions been welcomed to the opening ceremonies around the Commonwealth, it is a pleasure this time to welcome you to my own home."
It was in Buckingham Palace that the Commonwealth was formed in 1949, with just eight nations.
Today, the network of nations with past links to the British Empire, ranging from giant India to the small Pacific nation of Nauru, represents 2.4 billion people.
Queen Elizabeth said the advantages of the network were plain to see, with an increasing emphasis on trade between Commonwealth countries and joint initiatives bringing about change on a global scale.
Expressing her preference for the first time, she said it was her sincere wish that the grouping would one day decide to have Prince Charles, her oldest child, "carry on the important work started by my father in 1949". But she also said she was mindful that the Commonwealth draws its mandate from the countries and its leaders.
British Prime Minister Theresa May, the meeting's host, thanked the Queen and the Royal Family for being the Commonwealth's most steadfast and fervent champions and for nurturing the organisation. She urged the leaders to work together to tackle some of the 21st century's biggest issues, such as climate change and threats to a rule-based world order and trade.
Mr Lee was expected to speak on some of these issues at Thursday afternoon's meetings for leaders and officials.
