A speech by The Queen at the XVIII Commonwealth Games, Australia, 2006

We can rightly celebrate the fact that the founding members’ vision of the future has become a reality.

I am delighted to welcome you all here this evening.

When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.

The Christmas story also draws attention to all those people who are on the edge of society

Recognising that each one of us is made up of layer upon layer of identity and that each of our unique personalities has ties to culture, religion, community, country and...

I am so very pleased to be with you again and wish you every success in your deliberations.

It gives me great pleasure to address this House today in recognition of the importance of parliamentary democracy to the Commonwealth as a whole.

We are so pleased to be back in Uganda.

The Canadian Corps transformed Vimy Ridge from a symbol of despair into a source of inspiration.

Ghana today is a progressive, open society. The economy is buoyant, and growth and prosperity are being fostered by a pluralistic and lively political debate and by your...

The birth of a baby brings great happiness - but then the business of growing up begins.

May I wish all of you here today and watching at home a most enjoyable day's racing.

As Groucho Marx once said "Anyone can get old - all you have to do is to live long enough". And there are in my view many other anniversaries this year which are more...

The links between Britain and Singapore are as strong as ever, and our future relationship is bright indeed.

Australia has an enviable record at the Commonwealth Games.

Australia in the course of my lifetime has firmly established itself amongst the most respected nations of the world.

It was universally agreed that the Opera House was something more than a performing arts centre, more than a great work of architecture.

These natural and human tragedies provided the headline news; they also provoked a quite remarkable humanitarian response.

We in the Commonwealth are our own 'world wide web'.

We both retain a deep affection for your country and the outgoing, generous Maltese people who have always offered us the hand of friendship.

It matters to all of us what kind of country China's people will build.

An act of remembrance is an act of honour.

While all Albertans — and all Canadians — value this history as a colourful account of the past, we also view it as a foundation for our present and future.

I have so many vivid memories and a tremendous sense of pride in being part of the Canadian family.

I retain a deep affection for this great country and for the people who take such pride in saying "I am Canadian".

My mother once said that this country felt like a "home away from home" for the Queen of Canada. Ladies and gentlemen, six decades later it still does...

Everyone is our neighbour, no matter what race, creed or colour.

Separation at this time is especially hard to bear.

Nigeria has much to be proud of.

Twice within the span of a single generation, Australia and Britain stood side by side in two of the bloodiest wars in human history.

Over the two World Wars and in the many conflicts since then, women in Britain and throughout the Commonwealth have faced and overcome all manner of challenges.

Wherever the future may take us, my admiration and affection for Canada and Canadians everywhere is - and will always remain - clear, strong and sure.

I am happy to be in Hamilton today in order to present new Colours and to visit my Canadian Argylls.