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
A speech delivered by The Duke of Cambridge at a United for Wildlife Joint Taskforce meeting
It has taken a lot of hard work – and real commitment – to get to the point where you are all sitting here together today. And we should all feel proud that we’re starting to...
Her Majesty sends a message to the people of Hahoe Village, read by The Duke of York during his tour
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex launch Shout
The Countess of Wessex gives a speech at a Reception to celebrate advances in eye health in India
I have seen many people both young and old have sight restored to their unseeing eyes. It is when their sight is restored that they start to smile, for smiling is a reflex we...
The Duchess of Cambridge appointed to the Royal Victorian Order
A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at Al Noor Mosque, Christchurch, New Zealand
The message from Christchurch and the message from Al Noor and Linwood mosques could not be more clear - the global ideology of hate will fail to divide us.
State Visit by The President of The United States of America and Mrs Trump
A message from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the people of Sri Lanka
The Queen has sent the following message of condolence to the President of Germany
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Baby | Gifts and Charitable Donations
The Duke of York visits China
Her Majesty The Queen has sent a message to The President of France following the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge & The Duke and Duchess of Sussex message countries affected by Cyclone Idai
Her Majesty The Queen has sent the following messages to countries affected by Cyclone Idai
A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at the Foundling Museum, London
I feel hugely proud today to be here today to become Patron of the Foundling Museum.
Message to the people of New Zealand from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
The Countess of Wessex’s speech at the Commonwealth Day Reception at the Joint Office of the Commonwealth
Thank you Lord Ahmad. Your Excellency, Ministers, ladies and gentlemen... It is an enormous pleasure to join you here this evening to celebrate Commonwealth Day. As you all...
The Countess of Wessex gives a speech at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), UN, New York
It is a privilege to be here today to join such an inspiring group of women, especially the young women leaders, to consider the crucial issues of Gender Equality and women’s...