In a world that can so often feel fragile and divided, we gather today in celebration of a union that has endured, evolved and flourished through the years.
The Commonwealth is a living testament to the strength of connection, the power of friendship and the possibilities that arise when nations and people come together with unity and purpose.
Our family of nations is unique, not just in its breadth – spanning every continent, and all the great basins of our one shared ocean – but in the depth of the relationships it nurtures.
The ties that bind us are not only those of history, language or institutions, but of something far greater: a shared commitment to the values that anchor us – peace, justice and sustainable development.
These values have been tested, again and again, by the challenges of our era, yet they endure because they are lived and championed by the extraordinary people of our 56 nations.
In the course of our years together, we have reformed and modernised the Commonwealth in order to maximise the quality and impact of our service to the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people.
During times of profound crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid intensification of climate change, an increase in conflict around the world, and persistent inequality, we have never wavered in our duty to one another.
And together, we have built the strongest foundations to rise to these challenges, and to seize the opportunities of a changing world.
Whatever we are faced with, we can always find hope within our Commonwealth: hope in shared values, in common purpose and in joint action.
It is in the Commonwealth that we see the spirit of collaboration, as nations large and small stand together to help and support each other.
It is in the Commonwealth that we see the power of innovation, led so often by young people whose determination and creativity are reshaping the world before our eyes.
And it is in the Commonwealth that we are reminded – perhaps more than anywhere else – that while the forces of division may be strong, the bonds of unity are stronger still.
As I prepare to leave office, I reflect with great satisfaction on a Commonwealth that has the capacity and confidence not merely to face the future, but to build it.
A Commonwealth that brings people together, drawing strength and inspiration from what we share, to create sustainable and prosperous future in which no one is left behind.
This is our history, and our promise; our experience, and our aspiration.
To have served the nations and peoples of the Commonwealth as Secretary-General for the last nine years has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life. I am profoundly grateful to Commonwealth Heads of Government for offering me the opportunity to serve, and to every friend and partner in our shared journey of progress.
I will stand with you all, and behind my successor, as you continue to stand together, strive together, and thrive together.
Document
