New Head

From the BBC:

"Prince Charles to be next Commonwealth head"

The Prince of Wales will succeed the Queen as head of the Commonwealth, its leaders have announced. The Queen had said it was her "sincere wish" that Prince Charles would follow her in the role. Leaders of the Commonwealth have been discussing the issue at a meeting behind closed doors at Windsor Castle. The leaders also agreed a "blue charter" to protect the ocean and a "cyber declaration" to combat online crime and threats. The head role is non-hereditary so is not automatically passed on when the Queen dies, with some suggestions it might rotate among the 53 leaders. In a statement, the leaders said they "recognise the role of the Queen in championing the Commonwealth and its people". Prime Minister Theresa May and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had earlier given their backing to Prince Charles. Speaking at a press conference marking the end of the summit, Mrs May praised the Queen for her "vision and duty" in growing the Commonwealth from eight members to 53. She said it was "fitting" Prince Charles would succeed her due to his "proud support" of the Commonwealth "for more than four decades".  The meeting during a two-day summit involved 46 heads of Commonwealth governments and foreign ministers from the remaining seven countries. The Commonwealth represents about 2.4bn people, but critics say the organisation is so disparate that it struggles to know what it is for, BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said. He also said the news of the prince's appointment would be "of great satisfaction" to the Queen  Other issues under discussion at the two-day summit in London have included ocean conservation, cyber security and trade between the countries. The leaders' statement said they had set "specific commitments" which include building peace, promoting gender equality and tackling climate change. They also said they will work to prevent violent extremism and human trafficking.   Patricia Scotland, the secretary general of the Commonwealth, said the "blue charter" will aim to protect the oceans from pollution, climate change and over-fishing. She said it would affect one third of coastal water around the world. The decision over who succeeds the Queen after her death needed to be unanimous.  Meanwhile, the government has indicated it would welcome Zimbabwe's re-entry to the Commonwealth after Robert Mugabe pulled the country out in 2003. Rwanda has been chosen to host the next summit in 2020.

What does the head of the Commonwealth do?

The role, currently held by the Queen, is largely a symbolic one and carries no maximum fixed term. It is used to unify the 53 member states and to ensure the core aims of the Commonwealth are fulfilled. These include linking the countries through trade and international co-operation. The head of the Commonwealth usually makes regular visits to the member states to foster these connections personally. A decision on all successive heads has to be made by the Commonwealth leaders. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Secretariat, its central organisation, help to plan many Commonwealth activities.

^ As a Commonwealth Citizen I don't believe the majority of the Commonwealth nations will accept Prince Charles as either their King (in the Commonwealth Realms) or as the Commonwealth Head. Queen Elizabeth II is seen as a Grandmotherly figure holding things together while Charles isn't. I believe that if he becomes King of Canada, the UK, Australia, etc. and the Commonwealth Head instead of Prince William places like Australia, New Zealand and even Canada will hold referendums to become a Republic. I know I would vote for a Republic in Canada if he becomes King (not to mention the fact that the position is only open to a Protestant - so much for "freedom of religion.") ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43840710