In addition to the United Kingdom, The Queen is Head of State of fifteen other countries. In these countries, which are often referred to as ‘Realms’, the constitutional functions of the Crown are exercised on the advice of local ministers by Vice-Regal representatives known variously as Governors-General, Governors and Lieutenant-Governors. The Queen has a different title in each of the Realms, for example, Queen of Tuvalu, Queen of Barbados and Queen of Saint Lucia.
The Prince of Wales has been an active supporter of the Commonwealth for over 40 years.
Together with The Duchess of Cornwall, His Royal Highness shows his support through official visits, military links, charitable activities and other special events such as the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.
Since 1969, The Prince has visited 33 Commonwealth countries, many of them on several occasions.
Most recently, in November 2012, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall undertook a two week visit to Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand on behalf of The Queen in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.
In November 2009, The Prince, accompanied by The Duchess, visited Canada on an extensive 12 day visit. Their Royal Highnesses also carried out a five-day tour of Canada in May 2012 in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.
The Prince is passionate about helping the people of the Commonwealth, and through The Prince's Charities is able to do so through the organisations which work in the areas of opportunity and enterprise, education, the built environment, and responsible business.
Photos
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The Prince and The Duchess in India at the Commonwealth Games
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The Prince and The Duchess meet the Maasai in Tanzania
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The Prince of Wales in Canada
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The Duchess of Cornwall in Canada
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The Prince and Duchess meet Australian singer Kylie Minogue
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The Duchess of Cornwall in South Africa
In a speech made at The University of the West Indies in Trinidad in 2000 titled 'The Commonwealth in The New Millennium', The Prince of Wales described the uniqueness and relevance of the Commonwealth:
“I have long had an instinctive sense of the value of the Commonwealth. It encourages and celebrates cultural diversity and makes no attempt to homogenise.”
The Prince went on to praise the “voluntary commitment” and shared values of the Commonwealth member states.
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 countries which support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development. The Commonwealth is home to two billion citizens of all faiths and ethnicities – over half of whom are under the age of 25.
Commonwealth member countries span six continents and oceans from Africa (19 countries) to Asia (8 countries), the Americas (2 countries), the Caribbean (12 countries), Europe (3 countries) and the South Pacific (10 countries).
Her Majesty The Queen is Head of the Commonwealth and has been since 1952. The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, like all Members of the Royal Family, maintain especially close links with the countries of the Commonwealth.
The fifteen other Realms are:
1.Antigua and Barbuda
2.Australia
3.Bahamas
4.Barbados
5.Belize
6.Canada
7.Grenada
8.Jamaica
9.New Zealand
10.Papua New Guinea
11.Saint Kitts and Nevis
12.Saint Lucia
13.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
14.Solomon Islands
15.Tuvalu
The Prince of Wales is, therefore, the Heir to the Throne in 16 countries. We have lots of videos on The Royal Channel on YouTube - visit our playlist.
Videos
The Prince’s Charities
Much of The Prince’s charitable work and areas of focus, including the environment, youth opportunity and enterprise, are extremely relevant in the Commonwealth today. In addition, many of His Royal Highness’s own Charities and Patronages have, at The Prince’s behest, a longstanding engagement in Commonwealth countries. Wherever possible, in his official travel through the Commonwealth, The Prince of Wales seeks to support the work of his Charities in supporting local efforts. Following are just some examples of the engagement of The Prince’s Charities throughout the Commonwealth.
The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community is working on urban development projects in Jamaica and Sierra Leone, whilst The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts is working with residents practising traditional crafts in Jamaica and with tapestry weavers in Australia. The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts is working with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada (of which The Prince of Wales is Patron) to support arts education in schools, whilst Prince’s Charities Canada works with a Canadian affiliate of The Prince’s Youth Business International (which is linked to youth business programmes in 12 Commonwealth countries) to support military personnel making the transition to civilian life.
The Prince of Wales is also the President of The British Asian Trust, which he established in 2007, to assist British Asians in supporting high impact charities working in the areas of education, enterprise and health in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the UK. The International Business Leader’s Forum works closely with business leaders to support disadvantaged communities in India, Pakistan and Malaysia, whilst the Business and Sustainability Programme has annual conferences in Australia and South Africa.
British Communities with Commonwealth links
Their Royal Highnesses often host and attend engagements celebrating Commonwealth communities in the United Kingdom.
In April 2010 The Prince celebrated the contribution of British Asians, with links to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, made to the worlds of entertainment, sport and business at a dinner in St. James’s Palace.
In July 2011 The Prince of Wales hosted a reception to celebrate the contribution British Nigerians, Sierra Leonians, Ghanians and Gambians make to United Kingdom.
Official Travel to the Realms and the Commonwealth
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall’s most recent visit was to a Realm was to Canada in May 2012 to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. During a previous visit to Canada in November 2009 The Prince and The Duchess visited Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, Ontario, home of Her Royal Highness’s great-great-great-grandfather, Sir Allan Napier MacNab, a former Prime Minister of Canada.
In November 2012, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand, which will be the final overseas visit by the Members of the Royal Family to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Their Royal Highnesses’ most recent visit to a Commonwealth country was in November 2011, when, as guests of President Jakaya Kikwete, they visited Tanzania to mark the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence. Prior to visiting Tanzania Their Royal Highnesses visited South Africa on behalf of the British Government.
In 2013, The Queen will be represented by The Prince of Wales at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The Queen has been accompanied by The Prince of Wales on two occasions, The CHOGMs in Edinburgh and Kampala in Uganda. For further information read the press release from Buckingham Palace.
