- His Majesty meets Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative delegates at the close of a two-day Wilton Park dialogue on sustainable urbanisation, held immediately ahead of CHOGM 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda.
- Wilton Park celebrates eight decades working at the leading edge of international diplomacy and dialogue.
His Majesty King Charles III during the State Visit to Guyana met delegates of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI) in Georgetown, Guyana, at the close of a two-day high-level Wilton Park dialogue on sustainable urbanisation across the Commonwealth.
The engagement, held at the Kingston Seawall, saw His Majesty view case studies showcasing the work of the CSCI in supporting Commonwealth cities to plan, finance and build sustainable urban growth. He met members of the CSCI and Wilton Park teams, as well as conference delegates, hearing about their work supporting international climate diplomacy.
The engagement marked the culmination of a Wilton Park dialogue convened in partnership with the CSCI, bringing together senior government representatives, city leaders, investors and Commonwealth stakeholders for two days in Guyana immediately ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda. The dialogue was a strategic contribution to CHOGM’s theme, ‘Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.’ It explored how sustainable urbanisation can provide prosperity, resilience, inclusion and sustainable development across member states. This dialogue is the latest in a series of Wilton Park strategic discussions focused on how Commonwealth countries, and the public and private sector can be brought together to implement real world change.
Guyana has long-championed sustainability and resilience through its world-renowned Low Carbon Development Strategy, and the country was a fitting host for this major international gathering.
The visit also marked the 80th anniversary of Wilton Park, with His Majesty viewing an exhibition of original photography commissioned to celebrate its eight decades as the UK’s leading forum for discussion on the world’s most pressing foreign policy and security challenges.
The visit held particular significance for His Majesty, a long-standing champion of environmental action and sustainable development. He delivered a speech on faith and environmentalism at Wilton Park’s 50th anniversary celebrations and has spoken consistently throughout his reign on the urgency of climate action and the stewardship of the natural world. Wilton Park has played an important role in supporting climate diplomacy for over 50 years, holding its first conference on climate change in 1972.
Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Honourable Vanessa Benn noted: ” The Commonwealth is home to an extraordinary diversity of cities and communities. But all share a fundamental responsibility: to create places where people can live safely, find opportunity, raise their families and look to the future with confidence. We have much to share, and much to learn. My hope is that Georgetown will be remembered not simply as another place where the Commonwealth discussed sustainable cities, but as a place where we helped move from aspiration to implementation.”
CEO of Wilton Park, Tom Cargill, reflected on the meeting with His Majesty:
“Wilton Park has spent 80 years bringing people together to work through the world’s hardest problems through open, honest discussion. It was a profound honour to mark that anniversary with a visit from His Majesty The King, whose commitment to dialogue and environmental stewardship goes back decades, including to our 50th anniversary. We remain deeply committed to the critical work of convening international dialogue, including in support of climate diplomacy.”
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Joseph Fisher added:
“Guyana’s global leadership on climate and sustainability made it a fitting setting for this meeting of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative, discussing how we can all work together to build a more resilient Commonwealth. This engagement, supported by Wilton Park, underlined the strength of the UK-Guyana relationship and our shared commitment to working together to protect our planet whilst supporting development. I am pleased that His Majesty The King was able to meet the Dialogue participants during his State Visit to Guyana.”
Tom Perry, Director of Urbanism for The King’s Foundation, said:
“It has been fantastic working with Wilton Park and Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative partners on today’s dialogue in Guyana to further conversations on the importance of sustainable development. For The King’s Foundation it is particularly significant that this conversation is happening in Georgetown, where we are working with the Government of Guyana on a landmark urban regeneration and development plan. It’s fantastic that Wilton Park continue to support the CSCI’s important work of advancing the CHOGM 2022 Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation and The King’s Foundation is delighted to be involved in today’s events as part of His Majesty’s visit to Guyana.”
