Britain's Queen Elizabeth backs her son Charles to take on Commonwealth role

Britain's Queen Elizabeth speaks at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, April 19, 2018. Yui Mok/Pool via Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth said on Thursday she hoped her son and heir Prince Charles would take on leadership of the Commonwealth, answering some who argue the position should be rotated around member states.

"It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949," the queen said at the formal opening of the Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting.

The meeting, taking place in Britain for the first time in 20 years, is seen as a chance to reconnect with former British colonies and revitalise the loose alliance of 53 Commonwealth countries ahead of Brexit.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles arrive for the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, April 19, 2018. Jonathan Brady/Pool via Reuters

The Commonwealth evolved out of the British empire in the mid-20th century, and the Queen has been its head since her reign began in 1952.

The question of who will follow Britain's 91 year-old monarch into the role was raised in the run up to the summit. The leader of Britain's opposition party suggested on Sunday the position should be rotated around the members.

Prime minister Theresa May also spoke at the opening ceremony and paid glowing tribute to the queen's "service, dedication and constancy" in the role. May will lobby for Charles to be the queen's successor when the issue is discussed over the next two days.

Britain's Prince Charles speaks during the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, April 19, 2018. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via Reuters

Prince Charles, 69, also made an informal pitch for the role in his remarks at the event in Buckingham Palace: "For my part, the Commonwealth has been a fundamental feature of my life for as long as I can remember."

(This version corrects London to Britain in third paragraph)

Britain's Queen Elizabeth speaks at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, April 19, 2018. Yui Mok/Pool via Reuters

(Reporting by William James, editing by Estelle Shirbon)

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth applaud at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, April 19, 2018. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via Reuters

Commonwealth leaders pose for a family photograph with Britain's Queen Elizabeth during the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain. The countries represented have been identified as: Back row, from left: Barbados, Belize, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Malaysia, Tanzania, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Botswana, South Africa, Solomon Islands, Pakistan, The Bahamas, Mauritius, The Gambia. Second row from left: Ghana, Seychelles, St Lucia, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Jamaica, Canada, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Lesotho, Namibia, St Kitts & Nevis, Mozambique. Third row from left: Sri Lanka, Tonga, Fiji, Antigua & Barbuda, Malawi, India, Nigeria, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kenya, Cyprus, PNG, Cameroon, Bangladesh, New Zealand. Front row from left: Swaziland, Singapore, Dominica, Grenada, Malta, UK, Queen Elizabeth, Secretary General, Rwanda, Samoa, Uganda, Brunei. April 19, 2018. Yui Mok/Pool via Reuters