Queen praises Charles and Philip in maybe her final speech to Commonwealth heads

The Queen has thanked Prince Charles for his support and "great distinction" in what could be her final speech as head of the Commonwealth.

Queen making speech at Commonwealth summitGETTY

This could be the last time the Queen addresses the Commonwealth heads

I feel enormously proud of what the Commonwealth has achieved, and all of it within my lifetime

Queen Elizabeth II

She also praised the Duke of Edinburgh for his "boundless energy and commitment" in her opening address at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Malta.

The monarch spoke fondly of the time she spent on the island with her husband as a newly-married couple and added: "Prince Philip and I first came to live here in 1949, the same year in which the Commonwealth was founded."

The Queen said she has "cherished" her time as leader of the Commonwealth, a role she has held for more than 60 years.

She added: "I feel enormously proud of what the Commonwealth has achieved, and all of it within my lifetime.

Prince PhillipGETTY

The Queen praised her husband Prince Phillip

Queen Elizabeth II kicks off Commonwealth summit

"For more than six decades of being head of the Commonwealth, a responsibility I have cherished, I have had the fortune of the constancy of The Duke of Edinburgh.

"To that, and to his many other Commonwealth associations, Prince Philip has brought boundless energy and commitment, for which I am indebted.

"Nor could I wish to have been better supported and represented in the Commonwealth than by The Prince of Wales who continues to give so much to it with great distinction."

She concluded by thanking the Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma "for his own eight years of dedicated service".

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond are among leaders from 53 nations attending the two-day summit.

Prince CharlesGETTY

Prince Charles was also included in the Queen's speech

David Cameron has announced plans to set up a Commonwealth unit targeting the extremist "scourge" that is fuelling international terrorism.

He has pledged £5 million to help countries find new ways of stopping "poisonous ideologies" from taking hold.

The Queen, who is accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, will host a reception for new Commonwealth leaders.

The event will feature more than 360 artists and performers, including the Maltese Philharmonic Orchestra and tenor Joseph Calleja.

The Royals will continue their tour of Malta and are due to attend a banquet at the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Valletta this evening.

Her Majesty is wearing an A-Line coat in aqua blue with a double collar detail (one collar over the other) made of jacquard (an intricately woven material), by Angela Kelly.

This will be worn with an aqua and deep cerise silk dress and an Angela Kelly hat with a deep cerise flower trim.

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