The British Crown continues to shine on the world.

At the opening of the Commonwealth Leaders Meeting (CHOGM), Prince Charles represented his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Head of State of 14 of the 54 member countries.

But for how much longer?

Barbados, which officially proclaimed itself a republic in November 2021, has dug a furrow that several countries dream of borrowing.

The atmosphere is therefore not really festive in the Commonwealth, crossed by deep questions, at a time when a change of sovereign is likely to occur in the weeks or months to come, and when the colonialist past is being challenged. cause.

"The Commonwealth has countries within it that have had constitutional ties to my family, some that continue to have them and increasingly that don't," Prince Charles said at the opening of CHOGM. Kigali.

"Sadness" at the "lasting effects of slavery"

"I want to make it clear, as I have already said, that the constitutional regime of each member, as a republic or monarchy, is solely a matter for the decision of each member state", he insisted, in front of dozens of leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The heir to the British Crown also acknowledged that the roots of the Commonwealth “run deep into the most painful time in our history”.

“I cannot describe the depth of my personal sadness at the suffering of so many people, as I continue to deepen my understanding of the lasting effects of slavery,” he said.

In Jamaica a few weeks ago, Prince William himself had to apologize for the colonial period.

CHOGM is held in Rwanda, amid controversy over a deal to deport illegal migrants from the UK to that country, which has sparked outrage from many human rights NGOs, the UN and the EU. Anglican Church.

According to the British press, Prince Charles also privately expressed his disagreement with this device, which he described as “appalling”.

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