Show caption Queen Elizabeth II makes a speech during the Commonwealth heads of government meeting at Buckingham Palace, London, on 19 April 2018. Photograph: Jack Taylor/AFP/Getty Images The Queen backed the Commonwealth leaders into a corner Letters Her call for Prince Charles to succeed her as head of the Commonwealth has reinforced the lingering odour of imperialism, writes Graham Smith Fri 20 Apr 2018 16.50 BST Share on Facebook

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In the UK we’re quick to call out nepotism and corruption in other countries. But it seems we’ve become desensitised to nepotism and abuse of office when it comes to our own head of state. The Queen’s very public call for her son to be appointed head of the Commonwealth backed member governments into a corner from where they would have found it difficult to choose a non-royal to succeed her.

The Commonwealth is a deeply flawed club that, despite efforts at modernising, retains an odour of imperialism and British patronage. Changing the titular head would have been a unique opportunity to reimagine the Commonwealth as a union of equals, not a postcolonial hangover where Asians and Africans are still expected to bow to British royals.

Graham Smith

Chief executive officer, Republic

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