Next week’s event is the first since 2018 and the Prince and Duchess of Cornwall are said to have been “particularly pleased” that after the forced pause, Rwanda hosted the meeting, having only joined the Commonwealth in 2009. Prior to the meeting, the couple will attend various engagements focusing on the 1994 genocide, the environment, violence against women and literacy. They will also be attending a fashion show, with the event coinciding with Rwandan Fashion Week. Chris Fitzgerald, the prince’s deputy secretary general, said: “The meeting is of course an opportunity for His Royal Highness to meet leaders from across the Commonwealth in person and is expected to have a series of bilateral meetings throughout the day. “During their visit, the Royal Highlands will take the opportunity to recognize Rwanda’s remarkable distance of thirty years on the vital issue of national reconciliation, to celebrate the unique and diverse family of Commonwealth nations in it. the Platinum Jubilee Year, bringing together people from all walks of life to support the opportunities of young people, take action against climate change and end the loss of biodiversity. The Archbishop of Canterbury reiterated his opposition to politics on Saturday night, calling it “heartless”. Justin Welby added that the criticism of the Church of England was not “because the destination was Rwanda” and that he would oppose the measures “wherever people are sent”.
