Queen Elizabeth II is set to make history later today when she signs a new charter taking a stand against discrimination, which some have interpreted as tacit support of gay rights. 
 
 The 86-year-old matriarch will sign the agreement at a reception this evening to show her support. With the stroke of the pen, the queen will be making a symbolic pledge for equal rights for billions of people in 54 countries in the British Commonwealth around the world. 
 
 The Commonwealth Charter states opposition to "all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, color, creed, political belief or other grounds." 
 
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 "This is believed to be the first time she's shown her support of gay rights. That's a big step," ABC News royal contributor Victoria Arbiter said. 
 
 The queen, who is recovering from gastroenteritis after being hospitalized last week, cancelled an event at Westminster Abbey marking Commonwealth Day, but will attend an evening reception to sign the charter, according to the Palace. 
 
 The charter is still only a symbolic step for many of the 54 countries because homosexuality is still illegal in 41 of the nations in the British Commonwealth. 
 
 Embodying centuries of stuffy royal tradition, Britain's head of state has recently learned to relax a little, showing she's moving with the times. But never in her 61 years as monarch has she done anything like this before. 
 
 "The queen has to remain politically neutral," Arbiter said. "While we won't hear her personal views on this, the fact that she is endorsing it publically in front of television cameras, it really does speak volumes." 
 
 Reading between the lines, the British papers are also hailing this as a watershed moment for the new rules of succession. 
 
 The timing couldn't be any better with the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, giving birth this summer. By signing this pledge, the queen is giving a silent nod to the changes. 
 
 If Middleton has a baby girl, her daughter will one day be the queen. ||||| London (CNN) -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will miss a service celebrating the Commonwealth Monday, as she continues to recover from an illness that left her hospitalized last week, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement. 
 
 The 86-year-old monarch was admitted to a London hospital on March 3 with symptoms of gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, before being released the following day. 
 
 A palace source told CNN the queen's health problems are "nothing serious" and "nothing to fret about," despite preventing her attending the Commonwealth Observance service at London's Westminster Abbey. 
 
 The queen will still attend Monday evening's Commonwealth Reception at Marlborough House, the statement said, where she will sign a new charter calling for equal rights in all Commonwealth nations. 
 
 The charter, adopted in December by all 54 countries over which the queen nominally presides, declares: "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds." 
 
 While some observers believe the queen's signing of the Commonwealth Charter signals her implicit support for gay rights and women's equality, a Buckingham Palace official said the monarch is merely carrying out her official duties. 
 
 The official said: "The Queen is apolitical and is signing the document in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth." 
 
 The 16-point charter also embraces democracy, freedom of speech and the rule of law among its provisions. 
 
 The charter's principles could be difficult to implement in many Commonwealth countries, like Nigeria and Uganda, where homosexual acts are currently illegal. 
 
 Prince Philip, the queen's husband, will attend the ceremony at Westminister Abbey, where a recorded message from the queen will be played. 
 
 This year's Commonwealth theme is "Opportunity through enterprise," and in the message the queen declares: "From climbing the highest mountain, to winning a sporting competition, making a scientific breakthrough, building a successful business or discovering unique artistic talent -- these outcomes all begin as a simple goal or idea in one person's mind." 
 
 "Our shared values of peace, democracy, development, justice and human rights -- which are found in our new 'Commonwealth Charter' -- mean that we place special emphasis on including everyone in this goal, especially those who are vulnerable." 
 
 A Palace official said the queen, who celebrated her 60th year on the throne in 2012, hopes to undertake some of her official engagements planned for the rest of this week. ||||| Queen fights for gay rights: Monarch makes historic pledge on discrimination and hints that if Kate DOES have a girl, that means equal rights to the throne too 
 
 
 
 First time Her Majesty has signalled support for gay rights in 61-year reign 
 
 Also promotes 'empowerment' of women in drive to boost human rights 
 
 Insiders say her decision to highlight the event is a 'watershed' moment 
 
 Her Majesty The Queen will sign the Commonwealth Charter in her first public appearance since leaving hospital after suffering from a stomach bug 
 
 The Queen will tomorrow back an historic pledge to promote gay rights and ‘gender equality’ in one of the most controversial acts of her reign. 
 
 In a live television broadcast, she will sign a new charter designed to stamp out discrimination against homosexual people and promote the ‘empowerment’ of women – a key part of a new drive to boost human rights and living standards across the Commonwealth. 
 
 In her first public appearance since she had hospital treatment for a stomach bug, the Queen will sign the new Commonwealth Charter and make a speech explaining her passionate commitment to it. 
 
 Insiders say her decision to highlight the event is a ‘watershed’ moment – the first time she has clearly signalled her support for gay rights in her 61-year reign. 
 
 The charter, dubbed a ‘21st Century Commonwealth Magna Carta’ declares: ‘We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.’ 
 
 The ‘other grounds’ is intended to refer to sexuality – but specific reference to ‘gays and lesbians’ was omitted in deference to Commonwealth countries with draconian anti-gay laws. 
 
 Sources close to the Royal Household said she is aware of the implications of the charter’s implicit support of gay rights and commitment to gender equality. 
 
 In her speech, the Queen is expected to stress that the rights must ‘include everyone’ - and this is seen as an implicit nod to the agenda of inclusivity, usually championed by the Left. 
 
 A diplomatic source added: ‘The impact of this statement on gay and women’s rights should not be underestimated. Nothing this progressive has ever been approved by the United Nations. And it is most unusual for the Queen to request to sign documents in public, never mind call the cameras in.’ 
 
 Insiders say her backing for full ‘gender equality’ and ‘women’s empowerment’ – using language until recently considered the preserve of Left-wing activists – is equally significant. 
 
 A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘In this charter, the Queen is endorsing a decision taken by the Commonwealth.’ But he added: ‘The Queen does not take a personal view on these issues. The Queen’s position is apolitical, as it is on all matters of this sort.’ 
 
 The charter is a clear indication of the Queen's support for equal accession rights as a change in the law is 
 
 
 
 The Commonwealth Charter is the first time the Queen has signalled her support for gay rights in her 61-year reign 
 
 She will sign the document at London’s Marlborough House, the Pall Mall HQ of the Commonwealth Secretariat tomorrow, Commonwealth Day. Although the charter is not connected with the accession issue, it is seen as a clear indication that she supports new laws designed to give equal Royal accession rights to boys and girls. 
 
 With the Duchess of Cambridge about five months’ pregnant, the change in the law could have a crucial effect. At present, if, as is rumoured, the Duchess and Prince William have a daughter, but go on to have a son, the son would become King when William dies. However, under the law change, due to be approved in the next few months, the girl would become Monarch. 
 
 The Queen has not expressed a view on the law change. However, well-placed sources confirmed that her approval of more women’s rights in the charter does reflect her support for equal rights of accession. This could bring her into conflict with Prince Charles, who has reportedly voiced doubts. 
 
 The Queen has had talks with Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General, over the issue of equal rights 
 
 One Royal Household source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The Queen takes her Commonwealth role very seriously. She has discussed the charter in detail with her advisers and understands it in full.’ 
 
 Royal aides have had discussions with Foreign Secretary William Hague, who backs the drive for better gay and women’s rights. 
 
 And the Queen has had talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, who has led the initiative. He said last month: ‘We oppose discrimination or stigmatisation on any grounds.’ 
 
 The charter’s Gender Rights vow says: ‘We recognise that gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential components of human development and basic human rights. The advancement of women’s rights and the education of girls are critical preconditions for effective and sustainable development.’ 
 
 Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay and lesbian rights group Stonewall, said the Queen – who he called ‘a feminist icon’ – had taken ‘an historic step forward’ on gay rights. He said: ‘This is the first time that the Queen has publicly acknowledged the importance of the six per cent of her subjects who are gay. Some of the worst persecution of gay people in the world takes place in Commonwealth countries as a result of the British Empire.’ 
 
 And he said her support for ‘women’s empowerment’ led to the ‘inescapable conclusion that she supports equal rights of accession’. 
 
 ‘The Palace has finally caught up with public opinion,’ he said. 
 
 However, Monmouth Tory MP David Davies said: ‘I fail to see why the Queen needs to make a special statement on this country’s opposition to discrimination against gays and women. It is a statement of the blindingly obvious. 
 
 ‘My worry is the politically correct brigade will use it to silence legitimate debate about issues like gay marriage. One can’t help wondering what Prince Philip’s view would be.’ 
 
 Homosexual acts are still illegal in 41 of the Commonwealth’s 54 nations. Penalties include the death sentence in parts of Nigeria and Pakistan; 25 years jail in Trinidad and Tobago; 20 years plus flogging in Malaysia; and life imprisonment in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh and Guyana. 
 
 Same-sex relationships are recognised in only five Commonwealth countries: UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. 
 
 David Cameron suspended British aid to Malawi over the persecution of gay people – homosexual acts carry a 14-year jail term there – and has threatened to do the same to Uganda and Ghana. 
 
 Gay rights activists have criticised the Queen for not speaking out on the issue. They have complained that while she is patron of more than 600 charities, none involve gay rights.
– Still on the mend after a brief hospitalization, Queen Elizabeth won't make it to a celebration of the British Commonwealth today, CNN reports. Still, her health issues are "nothing to fret about," says a Buckingham Palace insider, and in another ceremony tonight, she'll sign a historic document opposing discrimination throughout the Commonwealth's 54 countries. "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief, or other grounds," reads the charter, which the Daily Mail notes that some are taking as a nod to gay rights. It also comes as the UK looks to tweak ascension law to allow firstborn girls to take the throne, of particular relevance if Prince William and Kate have a daughter. But lest anyone get carried away, "The Queen is apolitical and is signing the document in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth," says a palace insider. Still, she has recorded a message to be played at today's Westminster Abbey event citing "shared values of peace, democracy, development, justice, and human rights." The charter could face challenges in places like Uganda, which bans homosexual acts, notes ABC News.