10th March 2025 | Lieutenancy News
Commonwealth Day 2025
This morning Rob Douglas DL, raised the Commonwealth flag in Farnham this morning to raise a and read HM The King’s message He was joined by community leaders, representatives of A Company 4th Battalion Princess of Wales Royal Regiment and young people from Badshot Lea Infant School, All Saints Infant School and Farnham Heath End School.
This year’s theme, ‘Together We Thrive’, celebrates the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family – 56 independent member countries united by shared values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.
Rooted in the principles of family, unity and peace, the theme highlights the importance of fostering strong and connected communities that support and empower their members, enabling meaningful progress.
HM The King’s message:
Last October, leaders from across the Commonwealth came together in Samoa to reaffirm their ‘belief in the value of the Commonwealth as a trusted forum where diverse voices of our member states, the large and the small, the young and the old, come together as one family’.
These gatherings are important for helping all Commonwealth nations to tackle the challenges of the day, yet they also play another vital role. In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe that our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and an opportunity for learning, the Commonwealth’s remarkable collection of nations and peoples come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship.
This year, the world reflects on the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War 2. More than one-and-a-half million men and women who served during the War came from across the Commonwealth to support the United Kingdom and its allies. On this special anniversary, we remember with particular pride and everlasting gratitude the untold sacrifice and selflessness of so many from around our Family of Nations who gave their lives in that dreadful conflict. The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today. Leaders recently reiterated the importance of collaboration for peace and human rights, as well as for the restoration of Nature both on land and in the oceans.
As we mark this Commonwealth Day together, there is no more important task than to restore the disrupted harmony of our entire planet. For the sake of our younger generations’ threatened future, I can only hope that the Commonwealth will continue its vital work to restore that harmony.
The Affirmation for Commonwealth Day 2025 :
We affirm that every person possesses unique worth and dignity, and that by
embracing our diversity, we grow stronger together.
We affirm our desire for peace among all peoples and nations, and our belief
in justice for everyone, everywhere.
We affirm our respect for the natural world and our shared responsibility to
be stewards of the earth – working as partners to nurture and protect our
common home.
We affirm our commitment to empowering young people in every part of our
Commonwealth. By honouring their ingenuity and imagination, we celebrate
their role in shaping a future in which we can thrive together.
United in kinship and common purpose, we cherish the rich tapestry of thought,
culture, tradition and experience that strengthens our bonds. Through fraternity
and partnership, we build on our shared inheritance to create a more connected,
resilient and prosperous world.
We reiterate our commitment to the values of the Commonwealth Charter –
not only as an expression of our ideals and aspirations, but as a guide for action
that unites us in progress.
Through our Commonwealth connection, we see each other, hear each other,
learn from one another, and stand together in mutual respect and goodwill,
working hand in hand for a better future.
Response
We affirm our belief in the Commonwealth as a powerful force for good in the world
and pledge ourselves to its service – now and for the future.
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