In his first Commonwealth Day address as monarch, Charles says the diversity of the 56 member states continues to ‘amaze and inspire’ him.
The King has called on the Commonwealth to “unite and be bold” in order to realize its “near-limitless potential” as a force for good.
King Charles said in his first Commonwealth Day address as monarch that the diversity of the organization’s 56 member states continues to “amaze and inspire” him.
The annual service coincides with growing concerns about the Commonwealth’s future, fueled by rising republican sentiment and calls for slavery reparations within former colonies.
As Commonwealth head, the King will face inevitable change in the coming years as realms gradually disentangle themselves from the British crown.
Senior royals including the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Royal joined the King at the abbey.
The King was greeted at the West Door by the Ngti Rnana London Mori Club with a traditional Maori greeting, rubbing noses with two of its members.
The Queen, dressed in a Fiona Clare sapphire blue gown and the late Queen’s sapphire and diamond brooch, had gone ahead, apparently fearful that her hat would be blown off in the high winds.
The Princess of Wales wore a navy outfit adorned with the Prince of Wales feathers brooch, given to her by the King last year and passed down through the generations from Queen Alexandra.
Unlike his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who delivered her message from the pulpit, the King chose to deliver it from the pulpit.
His Majesty stated that the organization has an “imperative to act” in order to improve the lives of its combined 2.6 billion people, more than half of whom are under the age of 30.
“Whether it’s climate change and biodiversity loss, youth opportunity and education, global health, or economic cooperation,” he said.
“Our shared humanity contains such precious diversity of thought, culture, tradition, and experience,” the King added. We will find many of the solutions we seek by listening to one another.
“This extraordinary potential, which we hold in common, is more than equal to the challenges we face.
“It provides us with unparalleled strength not only to face but also to build the future.”
The monarch, whose theme was “forging a sustainable and peaceful common future,” stated that the Commonwealth had an “incredible opportunity and responsibility” to create a future in harmony with nature and that preserved the planet for future generations.
“The Commonwealth has been a constant in my own life, and its diversity continues to amaze and inspire me,” he added.
“Its near-limitless potential as a force for good in the world necessitates our highest ambition; its sheer scale compels us to band together and be bold.”
The monarch also paid tribute to the late Queen, telling the congregation that the service was a “special occasion of pride” for his beloved mother, from whose example he drew strength.
Musical performances at the service included saxophonist Yolanda Brown, West End stars Roshani Abbey and Nuwan Hugh Perera, and the all-female Amalgamation Choir from Cyprus.
Among the honorees in the 2,000-strong congregation were Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland, the Prime Minister of Samoa, high commissioners, senior politicians, and dignitaries from across the UK and the Commonwealth.
Athletes from the home nations who competed in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last summer, as well as faith leaders and over 750 schoolchildren and young people from across the UK, were also in attendance.
The King and Queen, as well as members of the Royal family, will entertain the Commonwealth secretary-general, high commissioners, foreign affairs ministers, and other members of the Commonwealth community on Monday evening at Buckingham Palace.
