Prince Harry to take over key Commonwealth role: Report

Britain's Prince Harry is set to take charge of a new leadership role of the Commonwealth as the group's youth champion, according to a media report. The fifth in line to the British throne is expected to formally accept the new role at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, which will run from April 16 to 20 and is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other world leaders from 53 member-countries. The Sunday Times quoted senior royal sources as saying that the 33-year-old prince will play a leading part at the summit, which is to be hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Reportedly, there is already an agreement among the Commonwealth heads for Harry to adopt a youth leadership role and he is expected to speak at the summit's Commonwealth Youth Forum. Prince Harry has enjoyed his work on youth-led issues throughout the Commonwealth on behalf of the Queen and the institution. He will continue to expand on that and will be very visible at the heads of government meeting, the source told the newspaper. The 91-year-old Queen, who has been head of the Commonwealth since her coronation in 1953, is also expected to be honoured with a special birthday event at Royal Albert Hall in London at the end of the summit on April 21. Plans for a concert are still in the early stages, with details not yet released to the public, but Commonwealth leaders are said to be organising their diaries accordingly. Harry's active role within the organisation is seen as a tribute to his grandmother and is also expected to assist a smooth transition of the Commonwealth headship from the Queen to Prince Charles, Harry's father. The title is not hereditary and will not automatically pass to the 69-year-old heir to the British throne. The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office is said to be keen to capitalise on the global appeal of Prince Harry and his bride-to-be, Meghan Markle, as part of a post-Brexit push for closer ties with Commonwealth countries. In their engagement interview last November, Markle had said: There is so much work to do in the Commonwealth. In October this year, the couple will visit Sydney for the Invictus Games and there are plans to expand the trip into an official tour of Australia and New Zealand - leading Commonwealth economies.