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LONDON — It’s not her choice to make, but Queen Elizabeth II opened a meeting with the leaders of more than 50 Commonwealth nations by suggesting Prince Charles as her successor.

“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,” Queen Elizabeth II said.

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Although Prince Charles is the oldest heir of the Queen, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll become the head of the Commonwealth when she dies. The role isn’t hereditary and the queen’s successor will instead be chosen by the Commonwealth leaders.

Michael Lake, director of the Royal Commonwealth Society charity, thinks “there is a widely held view that when the time comes Charles would be an able and widely accepted successor” — but there’s no guarantee.

Photo by Jonathan Brady-WPA Pool/Getty Images

It is expected that the leaders, who are meeting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, will make a decision on her successor on Friday.