H.M. Konungens tal vid BP Fellowship Dinner

Your Royal Highnesses,
Your Highness,
Excellences,
Dear Baden-Powell Fellows and Friends.

Let me begin by extending my sincere thanks to the Grand Duke and Duchess for so generously hosting this 73rd Baden-Powell Fellowship Dinner.

Your Royal Highness, Guillaume, it was a privilege for all of us to be present this afternoon when you were inaugurated as Chief Scout of Luxembourg. You are now following in the footsteps of your late Grandfather; a devoted Scout and a dear personal friend of mine.

We are many who remember him fondly.

Some of us may also remember the 27th BP Fellowship Event, held here in Luxemburg in 1990, when the late Grand Duke became a BP Fellow.

Ladies and gentlemen: Every year, a few weeks before Christmas, my family and I attend a service in the Chapel of the Royal Palace in Stockholm. As the service begins, a group of young Scouts come to the altar, carrying the Light of Peace.

The tradition of the Light of Peace was established in the 1980’s. Scouts carry the Light as a message of freedom and peace; following the call of Baden Powell to “try and leave this world a little better than you found it”.

In my opinion, this is the very essence of this great movement: to grow as an individual by doing good for others.

Today, there are over 54 million Scouts in the world, organized in over 1,5 million local Scout groups.

Locally led, and mainly locally funded, these groups are a place for young people to develop; physically, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Quite simply, a place to develop leaders!

And you, ladies and gentlemen, are the ones making it possible. Your commitment makes a true difference in the lives of millions of young Scouts and Guides.

Thank you all for your continued support for World Scouting. And thank you Prince Guillaume for bringing so many new Baden-Powell Fellows to this Dinner!

Thank you.