Exclusive: United States could become an 'associate member' of the Commonwealth
The Royal Commonwealth Society is making plans to open a branch in the United States, with a view to one day bringing America into the fold as an "associate member."
Source: Exclusive: United States could become an 'associate member' of the Commonwealth
The Royal Commonwealth Society is making plans to open a branch in the United States, with a view to one day bringing America into the fold as an "associate member".
The project, which is said to be backed by the Queen, has come about in part as a result of Donald Trump's fondness for Britain and the Royal Family.
It comes amid efforts to develop the Commonwealth as a tool for building relationships on everything from foreign policy to trade, following Britain's exit from the European Union.
"The UK rather left this treasure in the attic, and forgot about it because people were so glued to Brussels," said Michael Lake, the director of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
Opening a branch in the US, Mr Lake said, would further Britain's ties with America, developing new connections between two countries who already share a common language.
I am all for this! I have believed for years that we should be part of the Commonwealth of Nations, formerly the British Commonwealth. We are as far as I know the only former colony of Great Britain to not be part of it: a group of 53 nations – sixteen of which are Commonwealth Realms, with Her Majesty The Queen as Head of State – with a combined population of 2.2 million, the Commonwealth covers nearly a quarter of the Earth's land mass, and has a combined GDP of £6.9 trillion (almost $9.7 trillion in US dollars). It's almost silly that we're not! I sincerely hope this comes to pass.