LONDON — King Charles drew on his mom’s inspiration on Monday as he celebrated his first Commonwealth Day as symbolic head of the grouping with a service at London’s Westminster Abbey, joined by different senior members of the British royal household.
Charles succeeded his mom Queen Elizabeth as the top of the membership of 56 nations that advanced from the British Empire after she died final September aged 96.
“I draw great strength from her example, together with all that I have learnt from the extraordinary people I have met, throughout the Commonwealth, over so many years,” he instructed the congregation. “The Commonwealth has been a constant in my own life, and yet its diversity continues to amaze and inspire me.”
The 74-year-old king was joined for the service by his spouse Camilla, the Queen Consort, and his eldest son Prince William and his spouse Kate.
He was greeted with a standard Maori welcome outdoors the Abbey and likewise by a loud protest from a small variety of republicans who’ve vowed to make their views recognized at engagements forward of his coronation in May.
The Commonwealth, one of many world’s greatest worldwide organizations, was at all times very near Elizabeth’s coronary heart and a few commentators say that serving to to take care of and enlarge it was one of many greatest successes of her 70-year reign.
“Her late majesty loved the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth loved her,” stated Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland.
“In our sadness at her passing, our admiration for all that she was, and our enduring gratitude for all that she gave us, we can all take heart from the fact that her vision for the Commonwealth, as an equal partnership of nations and races, has come to fruition.” — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
