The Queen will miss this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting for the first time in 40 years
The Queen will miss this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting for the first time in 40 years.
Instead Prince Charles will take his 87-year-old mother's place at the important event, which see's leaders meeting every two years to discuss global issues.
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It will be the first time that the Queen has missed the biennial conference since 1973.
The decision is a significant sign of Charles' growing royal responsibilities of the monarch as the next in line to the throne.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'I can confirm that the Queen will be represented by the Prince of Wales.'
Adding, 'The reason is that we are reviewing the amount of long-haul travel that is taken by the Queen.'
Charles, who is Britain's longest-waiting heir to the throne, will travel to Sri Lanka for the meeting in November.
The Royal family have all increased their oversea's roles and state duties lately, with Prince William and Kate Middleton taking on a tour of South Asia, Prince Harry's trips to Jamaica and the USA, and Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall's visit to Australia.
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