<p>Prince Charles told Commonwealth leaders Friday that the choice to become a republic or abandon the queen as head of state was theirs alone, and expressed "personal sorrow" at Britain's legacy of slavery.</p>.<p>The British heir to the throne addressed the opening of a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda as the host nation faced scrutiny over its rights record and a much-criticised migrant deal with the UK.</p>.<p>Charles is representing Queen Elizabeth II as the 54-nation club of mostly former British colonies grapples with questions over its future relevance and modern profile.</p>.<p>Republican movements are taking root in a number of Commonwealth nations and some are seeking reparations for colonial-era injustices like slavery.</p>.<p>Charles acknowledged the change underfoot and said the Commonwealth -- which represents one-third of humanity -- would always be "a free association of independent, self-governing nations".</p>.<p>"I want to say clearly, as I have said before, that each member's constitutional arrangement, as republic or monarchy, is purely a matter for each member country to decide," he told an audience of presidents and prime ministers.</p>.<p>He also acknowledged that the roots of the Commonwealth -- which includes members nations from Europe to Africa, Asia and the Americas -- "run deep into the most painful period of our history".</p>.<p>"I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery's enduring impact," he said.</p>.<p>Charles earlier Friday met British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been defending his controversial deal to expel migrants from the UK thousands of miles away to Rwanda.</p>.<p>The scheme, which has stalled in the face of legal challenges, has been fiercely opposed by the UN, church leaders, rights groups and -- reportedly -- Charles himself.</p>.<p>"I'm confident that the migration aspect will work very well," Johnson told British media in Kigali.</p>.<p>"We're going to continue with the policy and... the Rwanda partnership offers a good way forward."</p>.<p>He earlier heaped praise on President Paul Kagame for the "leaps and bounds" achieved in Rwanda, despite widespread concerns over a lack of political freedom and civil liberties in the tiny African nation.</p>.<p>Rights groups have openly questioned the suitability of Rwanda hosting the Commonwealth, which has a charter that enshrines respect for democracy and human rights as core shared values.</p>.<p>More than 20 rights groups and civil society organisations issued a letter before the summit saying a "climate of fear" exists under Kagame, whose party came to power after the horrors of the 1994 genocide.</p>.<p>The Democratic Republic of Congo has also called on Britain to condemn Rwanda over its alleged "aggression" in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, where Kigali has been accused of stoking a rebellion.</p>.<p>Johnson himself is facing a political crisis back home after his Conservatives suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary bye-elections.</p>.<p>The Commonwealth's closed-door summit meetings are missing some heavyweights, including Narendra Modi of India, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa and Australia's Anthony Albanese who sent envoys in their place.</p>.<p>The body has come under scrutiny over its relevance but supporters say the expansion of membership to nations with no historic ties to Britain underscores its value and prestige.</p>.<p>The two newest members are Mozambique and host Rwanda, while west African states Togo and Gabon are expected to join the club at the summit.</p>.<p>"The fact of holding this meeting in Rwanda, the new member with no historical connection to the British empire, expresses our choice to continue reimagining the Commonwealth for a changing world," Kagame said.</p>.<p>The secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, was narrowly re-elected Friday for another two years at the helm after a bruising campaign.</p>.<p>She defeated challenger Kamina Johnson Smith of Jamaica, who had the backing of the UK, which had expressed dissatisfaction with Scotland's stewardship of the organisation.</p>
<p>Prince Charles told Commonwealth leaders Friday that the choice to become a republic or abandon the queen as head of state was theirs alone, and expressed "personal sorrow" at Britain's legacy of slavery.</p>.<p>The British heir to the throne addressed the opening of a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda as the host nation faced scrutiny over its rights record and a much-criticised migrant deal with the UK.</p>.<p>Charles is representing Queen Elizabeth II as the 54-nation club of mostly former British colonies grapples with questions over its future relevance and modern profile.</p>.<p>Republican movements are taking root in a number of Commonwealth nations and some are seeking reparations for colonial-era injustices like slavery.</p>.<p>Charles acknowledged the change underfoot and said the Commonwealth -- which represents one-third of humanity -- would always be "a free association of independent, self-governing nations".</p>.<p>"I want to say clearly, as I have said before, that each member's constitutional arrangement, as republic or monarchy, is purely a matter for each member country to decide," he told an audience of presidents and prime ministers.</p>.<p>He also acknowledged that the roots of the Commonwealth -- which includes members nations from Europe to Africa, Asia and the Americas -- "run deep into the most painful period of our history".</p>.<p>"I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery's enduring impact," he said.</p>.<p>Charles earlier Friday met British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been defending his controversial deal to expel migrants from the UK thousands of miles away to Rwanda.</p>.<p>The scheme, which has stalled in the face of legal challenges, has been fiercely opposed by the UN, church leaders, rights groups and -- reportedly -- Charles himself.</p>.<p>"I'm confident that the migration aspect will work very well," Johnson told British media in Kigali.</p>.<p>"We're going to continue with the policy and... the Rwanda partnership offers a good way forward."</p>.<p>He earlier heaped praise on President Paul Kagame for the "leaps and bounds" achieved in Rwanda, despite widespread concerns over a lack of political freedom and civil liberties in the tiny African nation.</p>.<p>Rights groups have openly questioned the suitability of Rwanda hosting the Commonwealth, which has a charter that enshrines respect for democracy and human rights as core shared values.</p>.<p>More than 20 rights groups and civil society organisations issued a letter before the summit saying a "climate of fear" exists under Kagame, whose party came to power after the horrors of the 1994 genocide.</p>.<p>The Democratic Republic of Congo has also called on Britain to condemn Rwanda over its alleged "aggression" in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, where Kigali has been accused of stoking a rebellion.</p>.<p>Johnson himself is facing a political crisis back home after his Conservatives suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary bye-elections.</p>.<p>The Commonwealth's closed-door summit meetings are missing some heavyweights, including Narendra Modi of India, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa and Australia's Anthony Albanese who sent envoys in their place.</p>.<p>The body has come under scrutiny over its relevance but supporters say the expansion of membership to nations with no historic ties to Britain underscores its value and prestige.</p>.<p>The two newest members are Mozambique and host Rwanda, while west African states Togo and Gabon are expected to join the club at the summit.</p>.<p>"The fact of holding this meeting in Rwanda, the new member with no historical connection to the British empire, expresses our choice to continue reimagining the Commonwealth for a changing world," Kagame said.</p>.<p>The secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, was narrowly re-elected Friday for another two years at the helm after a bruising campaign.</p>.<p>She defeated challenger Kamina Johnson Smith of Jamaica, who had the backing of the UK, which had expressed dissatisfaction with Scotland's stewardship of the organisation.</p>