A speech by The Queen at the XVIII Commonwealth Games, Australia, 2006

Stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory.

Such a blend of traditions serves to make us stronger, individually and collectively, by providing the ingredients needed for social, political and economic resilience

On behalf of the people The Trust has helped thank you to each and every one of you for all your incredible support, and to Your Majesty thank you for choosing to give the...

Since you became an independent country in 1966, you have continued to flourish and grow into a strong and confident nation.

On behalf of my grandmother, The Queen, I am grateful to the Government and the people of St. Lucia for this most generous contribution.

Being inclusive and accepting diversity goes far deeper than accepting differences at face value and being tolerant.

The understanding that we belong together, and are able, through teamwork, to achieve far more than we could do alone, has always been at the heart of our approach.

The baton relay represents a calling together of people from every part of the Commonwealth.

In the Commonwealth, governments, businesses, communities and individuals should each strive to match words and good intentions with deeds. Every contribution has its part to...

I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.

Despite its size and scale, the Commonwealth to me is still at heart a collection of villages.

The Commonwealth is one of the great partnerships of the world where rich and poor, large and small, work together for the common good.

Thank you, Mr Prime Minister of Canada, for making me feel so old!

Ladies and gentlemen, I feel enormously proud of what the Commonwealth has achieved, and all of it within my lifetime