British Commonwealth Quotes

I don't want to be Prime Minister of England, I want to be Prime Minister of the whole of the United Kingdom.

I am huge fan of Australian comedy. 'Strictly Ballroom' is one of my favorite movies. Definitely the British Commonwealth's sensibility is where I draw a lot of my influences.

You see, before I became prime minister, the Australian prime minister only attended ever two meetings in the world: the British Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the South Pacific Forum.

If nationalism were the world's ruling passion, could the British Commonwealth, with its manifold variety of peoples, have been held together?

There are no countries in the world less known by the British than those selfsame British Islands.

England’s drama is to be forced to choose between the remains of her Empire at the price of American hegemony and a loyal commitment to the continent.

Scotland is the Canada of England!

Great Britain.

… and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas

Canada is the linchpin of the English-speaking world. Canada, with those relations of friendly, affectionate intimacy with the United States on the one hand and with her unswerving fidelity to the British Commonwealth and the Motherland on the other, is the link which joins together these great branches of the human family, a link which, spanning the oceans, brings the continents into their true relation and will prevent in future generations any growth of division between the proud and the happy nations of Europe and the great countries which have come into existence in the New World.

The Crown as a symbol of sovereignty encourages British Canadians to ignore their own failure to build a united nation by allowing them an illusory participation in a history and a greatness not properly theirs.

I think there was, and there is, a real Commonwealth culture. It's different. America doesn't really feel to be a part of that.

Though Great Britain could do perfectly well without her colonies, and though on every principle of morality and justice she ought to consent to their separation, should the time come when, after full trial of the best form of union, they deliberately desire to be dissevered—there are strong reasons for maintaining the present slight bond of connection, so long as not disagreeable to the feelings of either party.

The country I live in is never clear about its name. My passport says 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,' and citizens of the U.K. may call themselves British, English, Scottish, Welsh or from Northern Ireland.

Both my parents are English and came out to Australia in 1967. I was born the following year. My parents, and immigrants like them, were known as '£10 poms.' Back then, the Australian government was trying to get educated British people and Canadians - to be honest, educated white people - to come and live in Australia.

… the Queen has come to love the Commonwealth, partly because it supplies her with regular cheering crowds of flag-waving picaninnies

The time seems right for a new conception of association within the Commonwealth, not necessarily owing allegiance to the Crown, especially for those countries which have no ties of blood, culture, or religion

'Commonwealth' is not a word I ever used growing up in Colombo. There, in the late 1950s, it would have meant little more than New Zealand lamb and Anchor butter at the cold stores.

We have loosened the formal bonds of unity with the great dominions. The destinies of their peoples are guided by their own governments. No rigid framework cramps our conversations with one another or with the world outside the family circle. When we meet together in equal freedom we are united by common allegiance to the Crown. In that model unity lies our strength.