Prince Charles gives blessing to Commonwealth countries that sever ties with royal family

The Prince of Wales will give his blessing on Friday to Commonwealth countries that want to sever ties with the Royal family, insisting that such change can be made “calmly and without rancour”.

Prince Charles, 73, will tell prime ministers and presidents gathered for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Kigali, Rwanda, that while constitutions evolve, the “common values and shared goals” that bind all 54 member nations should never be forgotten.

His comments come at a pivotal time with several countries, including Jamaica and Australia, poised to follow Barbados in removing the Queen as head of state.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s recent tour of the Caribbean brought the broader issues into sharp focus, with protests about slavery and demands for reparations. Andrew Holness, the Jamaican prime minister, told the couple that his island nation was “moving away” from the monarchy and would become a republic.