Charles grateful to continue his service
King Charles has pledged to the commonwealth to “continue to serve you, to the best of my ability” as he continues his treatment for cancer.
In a video message recorded at Windsor Castle, the 75-yearold monarch looked weary as he thanked people for their “wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes” over his cancer diagnosis.
“In recent weeks, 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,” he said.
In a royal first, the King recorded the address that was played to the congregation in Westminster Abbey, which included Queen Camilla and Prince William, but no Princess Catherine, who was at a medical appointment after a furore over an edited photo she released on Mother’s Day.
An extended roster of royals, including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, were also in attendance.
Referring to the origins of the commonwealth countries that once formed the British Empire, the King said: “The 75th anniversary of the commonwealth is a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey our unique family of free and independent nations has made since 1949.
“Last year, the Bahamas celebrated its 50th anniversary of Independence, as Grenada has this year, and Papua New Guinea will next year,” he said.
“Each of these milestones – and many others like them – represent the fulfilment of countless aspirations and the achievement of such remarkable potential. The commonwealth’s growth, with new members continuing to join our family of nations, demonstrates clearly that whilst we may not all have a shared history, we have common ambitions for a better future – working together to build resilience and respond to global challenges.”
The video was filmed last month at Windsor Castle, one of the places where Charles has been recuperating.