As the 2026 Commonwealth Games draw to a close, King Charles has delivered a heartfelt message celebrating the athletes, volunteers and organisers who helped make this year’s event a success.
Ahead of Sunday’s closing ceremony in Glasgow, Buckingham Palace released a statement from the King, in which he praised the Games for it’s enduring spirit of the Commonwealth.
His Majesty said the Games had become “a stage for outstanding athletic excellence” and “a joyful celebration of all that unites our Commonwealth nations.”
He added that the event was a powerful reminder of sport’s unique ability to bring people, countries and generations together.
The King and Queen Camilla also expressed their gratitude to everyone involved in delivering the sports.
“My wife and I would like to extend our warmest thanks to all those who played a part in making the XXIII Commonwealth Games such a wonderful success,” the King said.
Looking back to the opening ceremony, which he attended in Glasgow, Charles said it had been “a great pleasure” to launch the Games during a celebration that honoured both Scotland and the lasting bonds shared across the nation.
The King joked that the work involved was “just like a certain blue telephone box – far larger than they may appear from the outside.”
Congratulating the medal winners, the King also made a point of recognising every athlete who competed, saying he hoped all participants and contributors would look back on the Games with immense pride in what they had accomplished.
The evening concluded with the official handover to Ahmedabad, India, which will host the 24th Commonwealth Games in 2030, bringing Glasgow’s memorable chapter to a fitting close.
