King Charles pledges to continue serving the Commonwealth

In his address to the Commonwealth, King Charles promised to continue serving “to the best of my ability.”

The King made the promise during recorded video remarks released for Commonwealth Day as he was unable to attend the service in Westminster Abbey due to his ongoing cancer treatment.

His Majesty, who recorded the message last month in Windsor Castle, said his faith in the Commonwealth “remains as sure and strong as it has ever been.”

The Commonwealth is marking its 75th anniversary to which the King said: “Having recently celebrated my seventy-fifth birthday, it warms my heart to reflect on the way the Commonwealth has been a constant throughout my own life – a precious source of strength, inspiration, and pride.”

King Charles added: “I have no doubt that we will continue to support one another across the Commonwealth as, together, we continue this vital journey.”

He also took time to thank the public at large for the support shown to him after his undisclosed cancer diagnosis: “I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and, in return, can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth.”

An advocate for the environment, part of the King’s speech was dedicated to climate change and other economic and social changes.

“I cannot say often enough that it is by coming together that we create the best chances to improve our world and the lives of people everywhere,” he said.

His Majesty made sure to praise the Commonwealth’s diversity, calling it “our greatest strength” and stressed the importance of finding “ways of healing, and to support each other to pursue solutions.”

The King stated: “The Commonwealth family is strongest when we are connected, through friendship.

“As I have said before, the Commonwealth is like the wiring of a house, and its people, our energy, and our ideas are the current that runs through those wires.

“Together and individually, we are strengthened by sharing perspectives and experiences, and by offering and borrowing the myriad ways we have each tackled the challenges of our time.”

The Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey was led by Queen Camilla. The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were also in attendance.