A speech delivered by The Duke of Cambridge at the Commonwealth Welcome Reception, Queen Elizabeth II Centre
Published
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a huge pleasure to be here at the QE2 Centre at the start of this historic Commonwealth week in London and Windsor.
It is very easy at the start of a week like this, when so many Heads of Government are gathering, to believe that the summit and its communiqués and statements are all that the Commonwealth is about.
The Commonwealth, I am pleased to say, is a lot more than that.
First of all, let me pay tribute to our Australian friends, who have just put on the most fantastic festival of sport with the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. And well done for topping the medals table – obviously everyone in the United Kingdom is just thrilled for you.
But the Commonwealth is a lot more than even politics and sports. When the question is asked, as it sometimes is: what makes the Commonwealth unique? I answer with great confidence that it is you who make the Commonwealth unique.
The Commonwealth has rightly been described as “the mother of all networks”. There is no other organisation on earth that marries politics with the civil society and the networks that the Forums represent.
And you are just the tip of the iceberg: there is a huge number of organisations representing every profession and walk of life who network across the Commonwealth – scientists, archivists, activists, medics, museums, universities, commerce – I could go on. These bodies, and your work in these Forums, bring a world that needs more communication, not less, together. What this gathering represents is a connection based on empathy, compassion and a shared desire to make our world a better place.
There is no other network on earth that even comes close to this – we must make the most of it, cherish it, and protect it for the generations to come, who will build on it.
And let's start this week – you represent millions of diverse voices, so use your combined intellect and creativity to challenge the status quo and to push the boundaries of what the Commonwealth is capable of.
I hope tonight's event speaks to this sense of togetherness and creativity, an approach to the world which is open and recognises shared experience. You will see around you many of the inventions and products which represent the very best of British ingenuity.
Tonight the organisers, representing Britain, have tried to focus on those ideas forged through partnerships across the Commonwealth – illustrating exactly this point.
My purpose here on stage tonight is to welcome you to the United Kingdom, and I am delighted to do so. If I may, though my duty is to formally welcome you on behalf of the whole country, I wanted to extend a personal note of welcome too. During the course of this week, across all the different events, you will be seeing a lot of the Royal Family.
For us in the Royal Family, supporting The Queen who has dedicated her life loyally and without fail to the Commonwealth is an enormous honour.
We hope, above all, that you prosper from your time together this week and that your sense of family deepens. It is a great pleasure for me and for all of the family to share your week with you.
So, welcome. We have five extraordinary days before us, with over five thousand people here in London from every corner of our Commonwealth family.
Have a good evening; and a very good week.
Related content
The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast 2019
As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year we marked the fiftieth anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission. As those historic...
An Open Letter from The Duchess of Cambridge to Midwives
The Countess of Wessex's speech at the Sovereign's Parade, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
As you climb each step think of the thousands of officers who have gone before you; those who fought and survived, those who fought and died in the many campaigns since...
A message from Her Majesty The Queen following the Terror Attacks at London Bridge
Prince Philip and I have been saddened to hear of the terror attacks at London Bridge. We send our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved...
The Duke of Cambridge visits Kuwait and Oman
A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the Tusk Conservation Awards
My generation and those following are acutely aware that we cannot simply carry on as we are.
The Queen's speech on awarding Sir David Attenborough the Chatham House Prize
Your ability to communicate the beauty and vulnerability of our natural environment remains unequalled
Remarks by HRH The Prince of Wales at Waitangi, New Zealand
New Zealand has faced up to the most painful periods of her past in a way that offers an example to the world. She has done so with courage, compassion and tolerance –...
A speech by The Duke of Sussex at the OnSide Awards at the Royal Albert Hall
It’s because of all of your efforts that 50,000 young people are getting access to such amazing experiences every single year.
A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the opening of The Nook Children’s Hospice, Norfolk
Thank you, John. It is wonderful to be here today to open The Nook Hospice. And a huge congratulations to everyone here involved. The Nook is a realisation of a vision that...
A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the opening of The Nook Children’s Hospice, Norfolk
Your hugely dedicated and talented team are at the core of this success and I wanted especially today to thank you
A speech by The Countess of Wessex at the 100 Women in Finance 18th Annual New York Gala
I invite you all to become more visible, to be great examples to young women and, if you aren't already, to become champions and mentors.
The Duke of Gloucester presents The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in Surrey
12 November 2019A speech by The Duke of Cambridge the Centrepoint 50th Anniversary Gala
It might seem an odd thing to say at a milestone event such as this, but I hope that Centrepoint will not need to be around in another 50 years.
The Duke of Cambridge marks 50 years of Centrepoint
A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the London's Air Ambulance Charity gala
The trauma teams working with London’s Air Ambulance are world class.
A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the launch of the National Emergencies Trust
Whenever and wherever disaster strikes here in the UK, this country has a unique way of pulling together.
A message from Her Majesty The Queen to the England Rugby Team
#GardenGram: a unique perspective of the Buckingham Palace Garden on Instagram
01 November 2019A speech by The Duchess of Cornwall to celebrate The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2019
Ladies and Gentlemen, It’s a huge pleasure to welcome you to Buckingham Palace today. Queen Victoria, my husband’s great-great-great-grandmother, was the first British...
A message from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to The President of Pakistan
A speech by The Countess of Wessex celebrating the work of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust
On behalf of the people The Trust has helped thank you to each and every one of you for all your incredible support, and to Your Majesty thank you for choosing to give the...