Who Will Be King? Prince William And Harry Take New Duties After Queen Elizabeth Declines Royal Invitation

The 2018 Commonwealth games in Australia marks the first time in 50 years Queen Elizabeth II will reportedly be absent, with last year's events possibly being the last time she'll ever take the trip to attend the annual games.

But she hasn't left the widely anticipated occasion without royal representation: Prince William and Prince Harry are slated to attend this year's games, as each nation represented in the Commonwealth takes part in the international multi-sport event.

Elizabeth issued a statement to the public ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth games, calling for unity and peace amongst the nearly 2.5 billion Commonwealth citizens. "The cornerstones on which peace is founded are, quite simply, respect and understanding for one another," Elizabeth said in a statement Saturday. "As members of the Commonwealth family we can find much to be thankful for in the inheritances we have received from those who came before us. Through consensus and co-operation great things have been achieved. We can find further reward and fulfilment by continuing to collaborate with others in the spirit of goodwill to build a peaceful and abundant future for all Commonwealth citizens."

Read: Why Kate Middleton Has Been Copying Elizabeth's Grace And Style

Prince William and Prince Harry have both taken on new roles as chairs and representatives of the royal family to dozens of additional charity organizations and national sports councils, following a weeks-long health scare caused by a cold which forced Elizabeth and her 95-year-old husband, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, to miss the winter holidays and royal New Year celebrations.

Neither of the queen's grandsons are next in line to the royal throne, however: Elizabeth's 68-year-old son Charles, Prince of Wales, will take over after the queen abdicates from her position. Meanwhile, William's wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge continued celebrating Elizabeth’s 65-year historic anniversary as Britain’s queen, the longest serving of any living monarch.