Royal Roundup: CHOGM Day 5, the Cambridge Baby & TIME’s Most Influential People

William

Today marked the last day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), while tomorrow will see the Queen’s birthday concert celebrating the music of the Commonwealth at Royal Albert Hall. While the big win of the week – for the Royal Family at least – was confirmation this morning that the Prince of Wales will succeed his mother as the organization’s head in due course, I thought it appropriate we covered off on the last day and a few odds and ends that slipped through the cracks with everything else going on.

Continue reading “Royal Roundup: CHOGM Day 5, the Cambridge Baby & TIME’s Most Influential People”

Charles to Be Named the Next Head of the Commonwealth

Embed from Getty Images

Commonwealth leaders have agreed that the Prince of Wales will succeed the Queen as the next head of the Commonwealth. The decision was made on the second day of formal CHOGM meetings at Windsor.

Continue reading “Charles to Be Named the Next Head of the Commonwealth”

The CHOGM State Dinner

qeii1.jpg

Tonight Queen Elizabeth hosted a state dinner at Buckingham Palace in honor of the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). It was in many ways a finale for her last 66 years of work on behalf of the Commonwealth, the continued unity of which has been a cornerstone of her reign. This morning she publicly endorsed her son, the Prince of Wales, as her successor for the non-hereditary role of the Commonwealth’s head, while tonight’s toasts acknowledged that the monarch plans to scale down her work further, relying increasingly on her family to represent her both in the UK and abroad.

Continue reading “The CHOGM State Dinner”

Harry & Meghan Attend CHOGM Women’s Empowerment Reception

Embed from Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were back in the spotlight again this evening when the couple attended a Women’s Empowerment reception as part of the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The event, hosted by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his wife, was held at the Royal Aeronautical Society and marked the launch of a platform focused on girls’ access to education worldwide.

The venue, luckily, is close to Buckingham Palace, making it easy for Harry to return there for tonight’s state dinner hosted by his grandmother, the Queen.

Continue reading “Harry & Meghan Attend CHOGM Women’s Empowerment Reception”

The Queen Endorses Charles as Next Head of the Commonwealth

Embed from Getty Images

The formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was hosted by the Queen earlier today at Buckingham Palace. Ahead of the event, celebrations of the Commonwealth took place on the Mall, while the flags of all 53 nations were lined up by Flagbearers from the Coldstream Guards.

The ceremony itself was held in BP’s ballroom and featured speeches from both the Queen and the Prince of Wales. It was the Queen’s speech, however, which particularly stood out since she took the opportunity to personally endorse her son as her successor for the non-hereditary position as Head of the Commonwealth.

Continue reading “The Queen Endorses Charles as Next Head of the Commonwealth”

Harry & Meghan Headline Day Three of CHOGM [Updated]

Embed from Getty Images

Before we get into the day’s events, I want to call out that Kensington Palace has added another engagement to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s schedule next week, meaning that we are seeing them today, tomorrow, Saturday, Monday and now next Wednesday. That would be a lot even if the couple were married and Meghan was a full-time royal, but I honestly can’t recall a window that chock-full for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge save foreign tours. Between Meghan’s participation CHOGM, her full dance card and her presence at historically family-only events, this engagement really is the first of its kind for the BRF.

Anyway, let’s get back to today, which kicked off with Meghan’s first appearance at CHOGM when she accompanied Harry at the closing session of the Commonwealth Youth Forum at the QEII Centre.

Continue reading “Harry & Meghan Headline Day Three of CHOGM [Updated]”

Charles, Camilla & William Head Day Two of CHOGM

Embed from Getty Images

“Whitehall sources” are confirming to media that the Prince of Wales is expected to be confirmed on Friday as the next Head of the Commonwealth in due course. As such, he appeared in good spirits today when he and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, carried out their first public engagements for the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Continue reading “Charles, Camilla & William Head Day Two of CHOGM”

William & Harry Kick Off Day One of CHOGM

Embed from Getty Images

And so we are off! The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is officially underway in London, with meetings, receptions and events scheduled throughout the week, a number of which will be attended by members of the British Royal Family. Prince Harry carried out the first royal appearance this morning, which started with the announcement that the Queen appointed him Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, an important role given that 60 percent of the Commonwealth’s population are under 30.

Continue reading “William & Harry Kick Off Day One of CHOGM”

Update on Meghan Markle During CHOGM Next Week [UPDATED]

Meghan Markle

Following up on announcements made earlier this week as to the Royal Family’s itinerary during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Kensington Palace provided additional information as to how our favorite royal fiancee will fit into the picture. I noted on Tuesday that our best bet of seeing her was next Thursday after the meetings themselves wrapped, but I hadn’t accounted for additional announcements(!)

Continue reading “Update on Meghan Markle During CHOGM Next Week [UPDATED]”