Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is representing Pakistan in 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Advertisement
It is a golden rule of Royal protocol that you should never keep the Queen waiting, but Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales were left twiddling their thumbs after Commonwealth leaders got stuck in traffic and arrived late for a reception.
Hollande, as president of the COP21 conference’s host country, is expected to make an impassioned plea at the Commonwealth summit later today, before diplomatic toils continue on the sidelines of a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth.
Malcolm Turnbull has met the Queen at a luncheon for Commonwealth leaders at a summit in Malta.
The Queen has paid a rare tribute to Prince Charles, in what may have been her valedictory speech at a Commonwealth conference.
Cameron, who was scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta on Friday, also unveiled additional 200,000 pounds seed funding to expand European counter-radicalization youth network to include the Commonwealth, according to the Downing Street.
She thanked her son for his support and “great distinction” and also praised 94-year-old Prince Philip for his “boundless energy and commitment”.
Her husband Prince Philip was an officer in the British navy and when he was posted to Malta his new bride lived with him there from 1949 to 1951 – some of the most carefree and happiest days of her life, before she became Queen.
Delivering his opening remarks as the outgoing Chair in Office of the Commonwealth, the Sri Lankan President pointed out that the issues such as sustainability, greatly emphasized during the CHOGM in Colombo in 2013, have been raised subsequently in the United Nations, thus combining the commonwealth endeavor in this regard.
The Prime Minister along with other leaders voted for CHOGM’s new Secretary General through straw poll – an adhoc or unofficial vote that provides dialogue among movements within larger groups.
Heavy security is in place on Malta, with armed soldiers and police on patrol and warships prominently on guard in the harbours.
Advertisement
Prior to his departure, the Prime Minister said in his monthly radio programme “Mann Ki Baat”: “The whole world is anxious about climate change”.
