King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to attend their first CHOGM since ascending to the throne, so as we prepare for the event, let’s explain what CHOGM is.
What is CHOGM?
CHOGM is the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, a biannual summit for all the heads of Commonwealth nations to gather for meetings to discuss shared goals amongst the 56 member nations of the Commonwealth.
The first CHOGM was held in Singapore in 1971, and has occurred, uninterrupted, every other year, in a different Commonwealth nation. The last CHOGM took place in Kigali, Rwanda, the last of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
[getty src=”674389929″ width=”594″ height=”394″ tld=”com”]Until her death, Queen Elizabeth II either attended every CHOGM or was represented by her son, then-Prince Charles.
There have been two special sessions of CHOGM, held outside the biannual timeframe: in 1986, the Commonwealth leaders met to discuss apartheid in South Africa; and in 2023, they gathered again ahead of King Charles’s coronation.
Where is CHOGM?
The 2024 CHOGM will take place in Apia, Samoa, marking the first time it’s ever been held in a ‘Pacific Small Island Developing State.’
The theme this year is “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth” and CHOGM takes place from 21-26 October.
What happens at CHOGM?
Each host nation sets its own agenda, framing up the themes behind that year’s meetings.
More specifically, for CHOGM 2024, this means the theme is focused on building a “resilient common future where no one is left behind,” according to the Commonwealth website.
[getty src=”499038450″ width=”594″ height=”354″ tld=”com”]Samoa aims to do this by strengthening democratic institutions, the rule of law and human rights; creating a more resilient environment that can tackle climate change; building economies that support “recovery and prosperity”; and empowering societies so that individual citizens can live “peaceful and productive” lives.
There will be four specific forums held throughout the week, focused on women, young people, business and social issues, like “climate justice, health justice and freedom of expression,” according to CHOGM 2024’s website.
Will King Charles and Queen Camilla attend CHOGM?
Yes, Buckingham Palace announced back in the summer that King Charles and Queen Camilla would officially visit Samoa as part of an autumn tour of Oceania and that CHOGM would be on their schedule.
In newly-released details shared by Buckingham Palace, King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to attend the CHOGM Opening Ceremony on 21 October and will host an official dinner for all the Commonwealth leaders.
[getty src=”1241495790″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]King Charles will attend the CHOGM Business Forum (held on 23-24 October) to hear about members’ work in the field of “sustainable urbanisation and investments in solutions to tackle climate change,” according to Buckingham Palace. He’ll also host a dinner for the New Heads of Government (namely, any leaders who weren’t at CHOGM 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda).
Queen Camilla, meanwhile, will focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment. She’ll attend a Women’s Forum event on 24 October, on ‘Advocating for Women and Girls in the Commonwealth’ that focuses on women’s health and eliminating violence against women.
How has King Charles been prepping for CHOGM?
Before even leaving the country, King Charles has already been in conversation with several Commonwealth leaders.
Buckingham Palace has shared that, throughout September and October, King Charles has either spoken with the following Commonwealth leaders: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Canada), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan), Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley (Barbados), President Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone), Prime Minister John Briceño (Belize), Prime Minister Gaston Browne (Antigua and Barbuda), President Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), and His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar (King of Malaysia).
Buckingham Palace has so far only released the details of one call, with Prime Minister Browne. King Charles and Prime Minister Browne were said to have spoken “about how Small Island Developing States, such as Samoa and Antigua and Barbuda, can achieve resilient prosperity and sustainable development.”
[getty src=”2175464009″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]In addition, King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a St James’s Palace reception for the Commonwealth Diaspora in the UK in early October. They were joined by the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke of Kent, and 300 guests representing all areas of the Commonwealth ahead of CHOGM.
When was King Charles named Head of the Commonwealth?
In 2018, at the CHOGM in London, Queen Elizabeth II made her wish known that she wanted her son and heir to succeed her as Head of the Commonwealth when he succeeded her. At the 2018 CHOGM, the leaders voted to enact her wish, and upon his accession in 2022, King Charles became Head of the Commonwealth.
Unlike the list of inherited titles and roles a monarch receives upon accession, Head of the Commonwealth is not granted automatically. This means that the current Prince of Wales may not be Head of the Commonwealth in the fullness of time, and William has already spoken about this.
[getty src=”948822108″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”com”]After a controversial tour of the Caribbean in 2022, William released a statement saying: “It is why tours such as this reaffirm [mine and Catherine’s] desire to serve the people of the Commonwealth and to listen to communities around the world.
“Who the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in the future isn’t what is on my mind. What matters to us is the potential the Commonwealth family has to create a better future for the people who form it, and our commitment to serve and support as best we can.”
There have been no motions to set the King’s successor as Head of the Commonwealth and is not likely to be a talking point in Samoa.
How can I stay updated on what’s happening at CHOGM?
Royal Central will bring you all the latest news out of Samoa, but you can follow CHOGM 2024 directly at their website.
