UK supports Prince Charles to succeed Queen Elizabeth as Commonwealth head

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain backs Queen Elizabeth's son and heir, Prince Charles, to succeed her as head of the Commonwealth network of 53 mostly former British colonies, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday. "The UK supports the Prince of Wales as the next head of the Commonwealth. He has been a proud supporter of the Commonwealth for more than four decades and has spoken passionately about the organization's unique diversity," the spokesman told reporters. "Succession is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole to determine." (Reporting by William James, editing by Elizabeth Piper)