Prince Charles to attend CHOGM

• The Queen has declined the visit on failing health

The Prince of Wales will represent the Queen at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka this November.

Prince Charles has previously represented the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth in the past, including at the Commonwealth Games 2010, a statement released by the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK noted.  

Her Majesty celebrated her 87th birthday this April, and unfortunately had to cancel her attendance at the Commonwealth Day celebration in March this year at London’s Westminster Abbey after many years, due to being indisposed, and having been recently hospitalised.

Buckingham Palace stated that this decision reflects the Queen’s wish at this time in her reign to limit her long distance travel.

In addition, several other members of the Royal Family represented the Queen on a number of long-haul visits to Commonwealth countries during the celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee last year.  

The Prince of Wales has always taken an active interest in supporting and encouraging the Commonwealth and its values, and attended the 2007 CHOGM in Kampala, Uganda.

“Whilst paying enormous tribute to the Queen’s continuing dedication and deep sense of duty to the Commonwealth, Sri Lanka warmly welcomes the Prince of Wales to Colombo, Sri Lanka, for CHOGM 2013,” the statement said.