The atmosphere was full of comradery and optimism as The Queen shook hands with athletes, young people, High Commissioners and staff at the launch of a Commonwealth Hub. The ceremony took place at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth’s headquarters in London. The new Commonwealth Hub will be located directly across from Marlborough House in a building to be renamed Commonwealth House. It will become the home of a network of Commonwealth accredited organisations.
 
Today, the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum agreed to move their main offices to the site. There are also plans to install an education centre. The Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and the Commonwealth Foundation are already located at Marlborough House, bringing the number of Commonwealth organisations at the same location to six.
 
Inviting The Queen to unveil a special plaque to mark the launch, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland described the monarch as the source of inspiration for the Hub.
 
A message from Buckingham Palace stated: “The Queen has been Head of the Commonwealth throughout her Reign. This is an important symbolic and unifying role. As Head, Her Majesty personally reinforces the links by which the Commonwealth joins people together from around the world. The Queen's official 90th birthday celebrations, which will take place this weekend, will be attended by representatives from 53 Commonwealth countries.”
 
Speaking at the launch, the Secretary-General said: “We, the participating organisations, have decided that we want a new future. A new future of collaboration, of partnership and innovation. We hope that by creating this hub and renaming Quadrant House as Commonwealth House we start on a new journey.”
 
She added: “We have 53 countries in our family, from the tiny to the large, all cultures, all people, all languages. And we know that if we come together in partnership we will do so much more than if we continue on our own. So this is a hugely wonderful and exciting beginning.”
 
The Commonwealth Hub, Secretary-General Scotland said, will help to deliver her vision to work more closely with all Commonwealth organisations to honour the values of the Commonwealth Charter and the commitments on health, education, climate change, good governance, equality and the rule of law.