It has been reported that Prince Harry is set to take on a new role within the Commonwealth and will formally accept this role at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in April.
Prince Harry will accept the role of Youth Champion within the Commonwealth according to The Sunday Times with the report also noting that senior royal sources have been quoted as saying that Harry will play a leading part in the CHOGM summit – which takes place from April 16th-20th.
It is believed that there is already an agreement between Commonwealth Heads for Prince Harry to adopt a Youth Leadership role and it is expected that Harry will speak at the Commonwealth Youth Forum in April.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will take place in London from April 16th-20th and will see world leaders from the 53 members of the Commonwealth descend on the capital including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our own Prime Minister, Theresa May.
The new role for Prince Harry within the Commonwealth will be seen as a tribute to his Grandmother, The Queen, who has been Head of the Commonwealth since her reign began in 1952. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is said to be keen to capitalise on the popularity of Prince Harry and his Bride-to-Be Meghan Markle, as a way of gaining closer ties with Commonwealth countries following Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Sydney in October this year for the Invictus Games and there is talk that this visit could be extended into an official tour for the couple – incorporating Australia and New Zealand – two of the Commonwealth’s leading economies.
Prince Harry has already enjoyed many years of working on youth-led issues on behalf of The Queen and the Commonwealth and his new role will see him expand on this work and be an incredibly visible figure at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April.
Plans are also in place for a special birthday tribute to Her Majesty The Queen from the Commonwealth leaders on April 21st.
Photo Credit: Chatham House