Updated 19:46 GMT
Queen Elizabeth II will not be going to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting due to take place in Sri Lanka later this year, reports The Telegraph. The Prince of Wales will be attending instead.
This will be the first time that the Queen, and head of the Commonwealth, will not be attending a CHOGM since 1973.
Citing advancing age, Buckingham Palace said health was not a concern however, the number of long-haul flights was being reduced.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said:
"Any long-haul trips will be looked at on a case by case basis. The Duke of Edinburgh, for example, was in Canada two weeks ago. There is no suggestion that the Queen's diary will become less busy. This is part of an ongoing process looking at the Queen's long haul travel arrangements."
The Telegraph noted,
'The news of her missing the meeting comes amid controversy over the summit, with concerns having been raised by member governments over human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. But the decision by the Queen not to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) is not related to these issues, as confirmed by the Palace who said she will be still be represented by the Prince of Wales.'
A BBC correspondent commented,
'the Queen would not have taken the decision lightly and it was both surprising and significant.' Speaking to Channel 4, the Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander called on the prime minister to review his attendance if certain conditions are not met. "David Cameron must be clear about the progress Sri Lanka needs to make before he confirms his attendance at November's Commonwealth summit in Colombo. "He has a responsibility to use the prospect of the summit to encourage Sri Lanka to meet its international obligations and address concerns about ongoing human rights violations." Suren Surendiran of the Global Tamil Forum told Channel 4 News GTF was "relieved" that the Queen would not be present. "However Prince Charles and the prime minister seem to be on course to wipe out all the pressure that has been built through the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) process in the last two years."
Meanwhile the Commonwealth Secretariat stated:
"This decision reflects the wish of Her Majesty at this time in her reign to limit her long distance travel.
The Queen was represented by other members of the Royal Family on a number of long-haul visits to Commonwealth countries during the celebrations of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee last year.
The Commonwealth family of nations as a whole completely understands and respects Her Majesty's decision."
See full statement here.
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