Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, are expected to visit Trinidad and Tobago in late November. They have been invited for a state visit by President George Maxwell Richards, a release from the British High Commission stated yesterday. Her Majesty is expected formally declare the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting open on November 27.
The Royal Couple last visited T&T in 1966 and 1985. T&T gained independence from Britain in 1962. The Royal Couple will also visit Bermuda from November 24 to 26, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the settlement. The release said, "The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will then pay a state visit to T&T at the invitation of the President Professor George Maxwell Richards, from the 26 to 28 November." The release also said The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh previously visited Bermuda in 1953, 1975, 1976 and 1994.
About CHOGM
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held every two years and brings together heads of state and government of the 53 members of the Commonwealth to engage in discussing global issues and agree upon collective policies and initiatives. CHOGM is distinct from other international summits where Heads of Government meet in an informal retreat setting and decisions are reached only by consensus.
It has also become customary for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, as head of the Commonwealth, to pay a state visit to the host country and address the opening ceremony. About 5,000 delegates are expected to participate in the CHOGM and its related events. Its theme is Partnering for a more Equitable and Sustainable Future.
–Information: CHOGM Secretariat