King Charles opens up on ‘more and more fragmented’ world as he praises ‘valuable’ Commonwealth
The royal dubbed the group of nations a forum for “honest discussion” which aims to improve the lives of billions in his Commonwealth Day message
The King praised the ‘precious’ Commonwealth(Image: Getty)
The King has praised the “precious” Commonwealth as he admitted we live in an “increasingly fragmented” world.
Charles, 77, also dubbed the group of nations a forum for “honest discussion” which aims to improve the lives of billions in his Commonwealth Day message on Monday.
The royal spoke to the 56 member states at a special service at London’s Westminster Abbey.
Singer Geri Halliwell-Horner, an ambassador for the Royal Commonwealth Society, which stages the event, also gave a speech along with ex-Strictly Come Dancing judge Oti Mabuse.
Charles, head of the Commonwealth, said in his written message: “In a world that can feel increasingly fragmented, this voluntary union of free association remains rare and precious – a forum for open and honest discussion and debate to help improve the lives of the nearly three billion people who call our member states home.”
The King and Queen were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and 1,800 guests at the annual bash.
Charles added: “Our Commonwealth of Nations holds untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners.
“With nearly two-thirds of our population under the age of 30, we are a family defined by youth and possibility.
“It is our shared responsibility to ensure that they inherit not only hope and ambition, but also a world in which they can flourish.
“That inheritance depends upon the health of our planet and on the restoration of the natural world on which we depend. Across so many parts of our Commonwealth climate change is not an abstract or distant threat, but a lived reality.
“The stewardship of nature, the protection of oceans and forests, and the pursuit of prosperity secured in harmony with the natural world are duties we owe not only to one another, but to generations yet unborn.”
The member nations will hold their Commonwealth meeting this year in November in the Caribbean.
