Prince Charles told Commonwealth leaders on Friday that the decision to become a republic or to abdicate the monarchy was “a matter for each member country to decide.”
The British heir to the throne said at the start of a Commonwealth summit in Rwanda that the 54-member club of mostly former British colonies would always be “a free association of independent, self-governing nations.”
The Prince of Wales is representing Queen Elizabeth II as the Commonwealth’s head in Rwanda at a time when the Commonwealth’s purpose and profile in the modern world are being debated again.
Republican movements are taking root in a number of Commonwealth nations and some are seeking reparations for colonial-era injustices like slavery.
Charles acknowledged the change underfoot and said the Commonwealth was a diverse and evolving family.
“The Commonwealth contains countries that have had constitutional relationships with my family, some of which continue to do so, and an increasing number of which do not,” Charles told an audience of presidents and prime ministers.
“I want to state unequivocally, as I have before, that each member country’s constitutional arrangement, whether republic or monarchy, is entirely up to them.
The Commonwealth has been questioned about its relevance, but supporters say the addition of nations with no historical ties to Britain demonstrates its vitality.
Mozambique and Rwanda are the two newest members, and Togo and Gabon are expected to join the club at this summit.
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