In his maiden address as the Head of the Commonwealth, King Charles III called on Commonwealth nations to have a vision for a united future.
And for the first time, the 75-year-old British monarch referred to his health condition publicly after being diagnosed with cancer in April this year.
“I can assure you today that for however many years God grants me, I will join you and the people of the Commonwealth on every step of this journey,” he said.
He made the comments during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (C.H.O.G.M.) on Friday morning.
“The Commonwealth mattered a great deal to my dear mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, her commitment to you all as that of my grandfather, King George VI before her is one which has helped shape my own life for as long as I can remember.
“Since my first visit to Malta in 1954, I have travelled to almost every corner of the Commonwealth. I have met remarkable people in every conceivable walk of life and learned a great deal from so many proud cultures and traditions.
“All of this has given me an unshakable faith in the special nature of our Commonwealth and the extraordinary value it holds.”
As the Commonwealth celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, King Charles III said this was an opportunity to reinforce commitments to peace, democracy, equality and prosperity.
“I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate. It is vital, therefore, that we understand our history to guide us to make the right choices in the future.”
King Charles emphasised the importance of acknowledging the Commonwealth’s past, particularly its inequalities.
“None of us can change the past, but we can commit with all our hearts to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure,” he said.
He reiterated his long-standing belief in the Commonwealth as a platform for genuine opportunity, particularly for young people and marginalised voices.
In a call to action, he announced the launch of a new Commonwealth fellowship program aimed at enhancing access to education for students from small island states.
This initiative, he noted, would focus on skills essential for a resilient future, including nursing, teaching, engineering, and green technologies.
Addressing the existential threat of climate change, King Charles remarked on its immediate impacts, citing recent catastrophic events across the globe.
“We are well past believing it is a problem for the future,” he warned, urging collective action to combat rising temperatures and protect vulnerable communities.
“If we do not, then inequalities across the Commonwealth and beyond will only be exacerbated,” he cautioned.
The King also highlighted the necessity of partnerships between the public and private sectors to tackle climate issues and promote sustainable development.
He expressed optimism about the potential for these collaborations, stating, “If the Commonwealth can succeed with this endeavour, then it will be an indispensable example to the rest of the world.”
He then called for a renewed commitment to shared prosperity, urging leaders to invest in the youth of the Commonwealth.
“I can only hope over the days ahead that you will make meaningful progress,” he said, emphasising the importance of the Pacific way, rooted in respect and compromise.
“Ladies and gentlemen, few of our forebears could have imagined the Commonwealth of today… as we set a course for the century ahead, we can renew our courage with our faith in one another,” he asserted.
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