Queen Elizabeth II to miss Commonwealth meeting
LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II will skip the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Sri Lanka later this year — the first time she’s missed the biennial gathering since 1971.
The queen has long been a major supporter of the 54-nation Commonwealth, and her decision to send Prince Charles to the November meeting is seen as a reflection of her age and of efforts to reduce her long-distance travel.
The 87-year-old monarch was briefly hospitalized for a stomach illness earlier this year, and she did not attend the Commonwealth Day Observance service at Westminster Abbey on March 11.. She has rarely taken time off for illness, having carried out more than 400 official engagements in 2012 — ranging from meetings with the prime minister to ceremonial gatherings.
One of her first public engagements after her illness was to sign a new charter setting out the Commonwealth’s commitment to equal rights.
AP
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That’s great news. This means Prince Charles and the Duchess of caterbury (AKA Camillia Parker-Bowles) will grace the shores of the Indian Ocean at Hambantota, hand in hand.
The World will be watching that scene where youthful representatives of the British Monarchy rubbing shoulders with our own brand of Monarchy.
Great imagination Chumpa, certainly your dreams will become true.
In addition to the British Monarchy, Australia’s Julia Gillard and her manfriend will land at Mattala Rajapaksa Airport and will exercise at sunset on the shores of the ocean at Hambantota and join the British Monarchy for the romantic stroll.
Our Sinhala Buddhist Nation, a model for democracy and tolerance, will be the cynosure of the World’s eyes.
Chumpa,
It is unlikely that Charles will be crowned the king due to his kanky panky behaviour while being married to Diana. I suppose he will be good enough for our brand of monarchy.
It is really good news that her majesty’s son Price Charles and his wife, Duchess of Canterbury will in Hambantota in Nov 2013.
They will be under the excellent care of our authorities including Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana, the head of the local council in Tangalle who had a bit of a fight with a British citizen and his Russian girlfriend recently.
The Royals are trained in self defence anyway and also the MI5 will be there in big numbers to ensure their safety.
Hey Guys,
The second wife of Prince Charles is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (and not Duchess of Canterbury). She also carries the following titles:
Duchess of Rothesay
Countess of Chester
Baroness of Renfrew
Primariliy, her title should be Camilla, Princess of Wales; but she preferred to avoid that title due to the popularity of the title carried by Prince Charles’ first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Now that they are due to be our guests in November, all Sri Lankans including local and Pradeshiya Sabha members, who will be closely associated with the Royal Visitors should be educated on proper protocols of addressing members of the Roayal entourage.
Chandini has raised a valid point. The Royal family has deeply entrenched traditions in delaing with commoners; unless these traditions are observed, they will walk away from you.
Given below are some basic guidelines which are useful in skilling up Sri Lankans who will be closely dealing with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall:
There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms.
For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.
On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is ‘Your Majesty’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am’.
For male members of the Royal Family the same rules apply, with the title used in the first instance being ‘Your Royal Highness’ and subsequently ‘Sir’.
For other female members of the Royal Family the first address is conventionally ‘Your Royal Highness’ followed by ‘Ma’am’ in later conversation.