Commonwealth backs Charles as next head

Prince Charles is to be the next head of the Commonwealth, Commonwealth leaders decided at the end of a two-day summit in London. The issue was discussed by leaders of the 53-nation community at Windsor, where they participated in a “retreat” on the second day of summit, that followed Thursday’s intensive day of executive sessions and bilateral discussions, as leaders sought to give new impetus the community. However, in a speech on Thursday opening the summit the Queen expressed her “sincere wish” that he take over as its head, while he described the Commonwealth as a “fundamental feature of my life as long as I can remember.” India is understood to have supported the choice of Prince Charles, so long as the system of choosing a British royal to head the organisation did not become institutionalised in the body. The potential for the Commonwealth as a bastion against protectionism, and the abuse of the “international rules based system,” climate change, and the importance of the community in sustainable development particular pertaining to small island states formed some of the key-pegs of the wide-ranging discussions in London. Among the issues stressed by India during discussions on Thursday was the focus the body could give to sustainable development of small island states that make up around 60% of the Commonwealth.