The commonwealth will always remain a free association of independent, self-governing nations, said the Prince of Wales, while officiating the official opening of 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on June 24.

His remarks were meant for countries that intend to join the commonwealth or re-admitted and those that wish to be independent from the British monarchy, and stressed that whatever happens as countries and constitutions evolve, the "common values and shared goals” that bring the 54 member nations together should never be forgotten.

He praised Rwanda and Mozambique for joining the commonwealth, singling out how Rwanda upholds so much that is extraordinary-a centre for innovation, a world leader in women’s empowerment, a growing hub for the green economy and a commitment to a united future. 

It is expected that Gabon and Togo will join the Commonwealth, while Zimbabwe’s application for re-admission is also expected to be accepted.

Within the Commonwealth, 15 members – including the UK – still have the queen as head of state, while 34 are republics and the remaining five have different monarchs.

According to Prince Charles, "The Commonwealth contains within it countries that have had constitutional relationships with my family, some that continue to do so, and increasingly those that have had none. I want to say clearly, as I have said before, that each member’s constitutional arrangement, as republic or monarchy, is purely a matter for each member country to decide,” he said.

Slavery

The prince told leaders at the opening of CHOGM that he wants to acknowledge "that the roots of our contemporary association run deep into the most painful period of our history”.

"I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact,” said the Prince of Wales.

In acknowledging the past wrongs, Prince Charles said, "If we are to forge a common future that benefits all our citizens, we too must find new ways to acknowledge our past.  Quite simply, this is a conversation whose time has come…conversations start with listening, and as The Queen said at our last meeting, the Commonwealth has always been and remains a global association which believes in the tangible benefits that flow from exchanging ideas and experiences and respecting each other's point of view.”

Commonwealth potential

The Prince said that the Commonwealth has persistently grown over time making it the world's most diverse body of 2.6 billion people with great strength.

He defined the word "Common Wealth as a group of ingenuity, knowledge and ideas, courage and determination. "By unlocking our potential, we can build a future in which all our people have a stake, ensuring that our Commonwealth Charter represents not just words on a page, but the lived experience of all.  And, in so doing, we will equip our children and grandchildren to be agents of a better future.”

The official opening of CHOGM was also graced by the outgoing Chair-in-Office, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the incoming Chair-in-Office President Paul Kagame.

Commonwealth leaders are holding several close door executive sessions that will be followed by a Leader’s Retreat.

On June 25, the Heads of Governments are expected to address the media on the outcomes of the executive sessions and the retreat.