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. Queen Elizabeth said on Thursday that it is her sincere wish that the Commonwealth “will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.” London: Prince Charles was approved as the successor to Queen Elizabeth as head of the Commonwealth at a meeting of the group’s heads of government in Windsor on Friday, Sky News reported citing unnamed sources. There had been calls for the role to be rotated around the 53 member-states, most of which are former British territories, but in recent days the queen, the British government and other leaders have backed Charles to take on the role.