King Charles III and Queen Camilla meet with West Indies cricketing knights, (left to right) Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Richie Richardson, Sir Andy Roberts and Sir Viv Richard at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Saint George, Antigua, as part of the royal visit to Antigua and Barbuda ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Picture date: Saturday October 31, 2026.
— King Charles III has praised Antigua and Barbuda for its remarkable achievements and international influence, declaring that the small Caribbean nation has made a tremendous impact on the world despite its size.
The British monarch delivered the tribute Tuesday during his address at the opening ceremony of the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), hosted by Antigua and Barbuda at the National Performing Arts Centre in St. John’s.
“For one of the smallest nations on earth, your impact in the world is tremendous,” the King told Commonwealth leaders and other dignitaries gathered for the historic occasion.
Charles began his address by thanking the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda for their hospitality and the warm welcome extended to him and Queen Camilla.
“Now, I did want to begin by thanking the governments and people of Antigua and Barbuda for their remarkable hospitality, and for making us so welcome,” he said.
The King also reflected on his participation in the country’s 45th anniversary of independence celebrations on Sunday, November 1, describing the occasion as an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of Antiguans and Barbudans.
“It was a particular pleasure to be able to celebrate on Sunday, the 45th anniversary of your independence, and to honour the achievements of Antiguans and Barbudans in so many fields,” Charles said.
His remarks carried particular significance as Antigua and Barbuda became the smallest country ever to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, welcoming representatives from an organization comprising 56 nations and approximately 2.7 billion people.
The summit has placed the twin-island nation at the center of international diplomatic discussions involving trade, investment, climate change, sustainable development and the future of the Commonwealth.
For Antigua and Barbuda, the hosting of CHOGM represents another milestone in its efforts to establish itself as a destination for major international conferences and diplomatic gatherings.
The country previously hosted the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in 2024, bringing global attention to the challenges and development priorities of vulnerable island nations.
Tuesday’s opening ceremony brought together heads of government, foreign ministers and other senior representatives from across the Commonwealth’s five geographical regions.
Charles, who serves as head of the Commonwealth, also reflected on the organization’s diversity and the importance of cooperation among countries with vastly different populations, economies and historical experiences.
He pointed to the Commonwealth’s recent summits in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2022, Apia, Samoa, in 2024, and now St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, as evidence of the organization’s global reach.
“Our histories, circumstances and perspectives may differ, but together they inspire us in our shared endeavours,” he said.
The King emphasized that the Commonwealth had remained an important part of his life, particularly through initiatives supporting young people and protecting the natural environment.
He said his commitment to the organization had continued throughout his life and had taken on additional significance since becoming King and head of the Commonwealth.
The royal visit and summit coincide with a historic period for Antigua and Barbuda, which marked 45 years of political independence from Britain just two days before the opening ceremony.
Charles’ public recognition of the country’s achievements offered a prominent acknowledgment of Antigua and Barbuda’s international contribution as it welcomed some of the world’s most influential political leaders.
The summit continues under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth,” with leaders discussing ways to strengthen economic cooperation and deliver practical benefits to member states.
For Antigua and Barbuda, the King’s tribute underscored a central message of its historic hosting: that a country’s size need not determine the extent of its contribution or influence on the international stage.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: King Charles praises Antigua and Barbuda's tremendous global impact despite small size.