This group is meeting later, officially to review how the Commonwealth is run by its secretariat and governors.  It said the issue of the succession of the head of the Commonwealth was not part of the group's mandate, but described the day-long discussions as "open".  However, senior sources added that the gathering in London would also consider what happens when the Queen, who turns 92 in April, dies.

The agenda for the summit, seen by the BBC, says there will be a discussion of "wider governance considerations" which insiders say is code for the succession.  The group is expected to report to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London in April, which is likely to be the last that the 91-year-old monarch will attend.  The group said it was independent of the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat, and would report only to the heads of Commonwealth governments.