Global Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society
The Royal Commonwealth Society Hong Kong Branch is immensely saddened to learn of the passing of our Global Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to His Majesty The King, The Queen Consort and all Members of the Royal Family at this time.
From her public commitment to the Commonwealth family in Cape Town, South Africa, as a young princess in 1947, and throughout her long life and reign, The Queen was an instrumental figure in nurturing and inspiring the growth of the Commonwealth as a unique, voluntary association of independent and sovereign nations.
Since becoming the Head of the Commonwealth and Global Patron of the Society in 1952 at the age of 26, The Queen’s dedication to the Commonwealth has been unparalleled. From her numerous official visits to nearly every Commonwealth country, to lending her name and support to programmes and events of which the Society has been honoured to deliver and support, including The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy and The Queen’s Young Leaders, Her Majesty’s commitment to the value, and values, of this network of nations and peoples is humbling and irreplaceable.
Branch Chairman, Mr Peter Mann, MBE, said:
We feel her passing very keenly. Her Majesty was a most enthusiastic supporter of the Commonwealth and described it as a ‘Force for Good’ and a ‘Platform for the Future’. She often spoke of its qualities of tolerance and diversity and its positive influence in promoting fellowship and world peace.
We look now to King Charles as the new Head of the Commonwealth to carry the standard forward.