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Royal family celebrate the Commonwealth

The Queen and the Prince of Wales attended a Commonwealth reception tonight to celebrate the "family of nations".

Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma Credit: PA Wire

The monarch traditionally holds the Buckingham Palace event ahead of a Commonwealth summit and invites high commissioners and leading individuals from their nations.

Queen Elizabeth II greets Foreign Secretary William Hague at the reception Credit: PA Wire

Prince Charles will deputise for the Queen - who is missing the Heads of Government for the first time since 1973 - in Sri Lanka next month.

he Duchess of Cornwall greets Adebayo Oladimeji of the Nigerian Council of Elders Credit: PA Wire

The Duke of Edinburgh was also at the monarch's side and the Duchess of Cornwall joined the prince.