She was speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm).

She said it was her "sincere wish" that the Commonwealth would continue to "offer stability and continuity to future generations, and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949". A decision on whether Prince Charles will succeed her as head of the Commonwealth is expected from the heads of state on Friday.

Nineteen of the 53 Commonwealth states are African.

Many are ex-British colonies but Rwanda and Mozambique also became members in recent years, while Zimbabwe left amid reports of election rigging in 2003.