HM The King's speech at gala dinner, World Scout Foundation

It is a joy to be here with all of you – BP Fellows and supporters of scouting. This time in the city of Rio de Janeiro at our first ever BP Fellowship in South America.

Brazil holds a special place in my family’s heart. I am always touched by the kindness of Brazilians, and grateful for the welcome extended to us scouts at this BP Fellowship event.

It is a pleasure to see how scouting continues to grow in Brazil and to celebrate this centennial milestone of the National Scout Organisation together.

In scouting, we believe in empowering young people by giving them the leadership and life skills they need to become caring and active citizens. We want to inspire them to be peacemakers and community leaders who are constantly ready to help others.

Scouting has always been important to me and my family. My father, Prince Gustaf Adolf, was the chairman of both the Swedish Scout Union and the International Scout Committee. I am almost sure he saved the notes from all the scout meetings he attended, and there are many photoes showing the many jamborees he participated in.

My Godfather, the peacekeeper and negotiator Count Folke Bernadotte, who also was a scout, even wrote a book about scouting. He believed that the true spirit of scouting embodies the need to do something good for others every day.

This principle of kindness was something I experienced firsthand when I joined the scouts about 70 years ago. It did not take long before I realised that scouting is so much more than tying knots, lighting a campfire, or navigating a map through the woods. It is about engagement - the desire to be part of something greater, to stand up for one another, and to make a difference in the world.

Dear friends and guests,

At the Impact seminar, I was moved by the scouts from Brazil, Honduras and Mexico. Thank you all for sharing your stories and showing us how scouting transforms lives.

We learned how Brazilian scouts did not hesitate to help others in the face of devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul. And how scouts here are working hard to welcome young people from all backgrounds into scouting, including those growing up in vulnerable communities.

Tonight, it has been a pleasure to recognise more BP Fellows and Honours Programme Members. Thanks to your support, even more young people will experience the joys, adventures, and challenges that so many of us have known both when we were young, and throughout our lives.

I encourage you to do everything you can to support scouts worldwide. In doing so, the scout movement will continue to serve even more young people and their communities.

As Ahmad Ahlendawi is moving on to new adventures, I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his achievements as Secretary General for the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Under Ahmad’s leadership, national scout organisations have reached a record of 57 million members. Moreover, scouting has expanded to more than 10 new countries. That is worth applauding!

Finally, I would like to thank you all for everything you do for world scouting. Let’s do more together!