Queen not game,will send Charles instead

As delhi gears up to the Commonwealth Games to be held in October this year,the Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen Elizabeth II will not be coming to India for the event. She has instead decided to send Prince Charles as the representative of the British royal family. This will be the first time in 44 years that the Queen will miss the Commonwealth Games.

“The sheer volume of engagements this autumn,coupled with other overseas commitments,means she (the Queen) would not be able to attend,” the Palace release said. “Prince Charles will represent the Royal Family in India and a message of support from the Monarch to the athletes will be read out,” it added. This is the first time that India is hosting the Games and only the second time it is being held in Asia.

A spokesperson of the Commonwealth Games Organising Commitee (OC) said,“We were informed about this through the Games Federation recently.”

“The Queen has confirmed it to us that Prince Charles will be coming as her representative. We are alright with it,” said OC president Suresh Kalmadi. “The Queen had attended the Baton Relay Ceremony at Buckingham Palace and this time she is sending the Prince,” Kalmadi said,adding that Prince Edward,the Earl of Wessex,will be coming as vice-patron of the Federation.