His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV dedicated his life to service, peace, and pluralism
London, England. March 26th, 2025: Baroness Patricia Scotland in conversation with Naushad Jivraj, President of the Ismaili Council for the UK. Image credit: Eastern Eye / The Ismaili National Council for the United Kingdom
Speaking at an Iftar dinner held at the Ismaili Centre in London last Wednesday (March 26th, 2025), Baroness Patricia Scotland, the British Commonwealth Secretary General, reflected on her personal connection with the His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, recalling their meetings during Commonwealth Day celebrations at Westminster Abbey.
The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an international association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire from which it developed.
“His grace and wisdom were always inspiring,” Baroness Scotland said during the event which was attended by around 180 guests. She praised his humility and kindness, recalling how he treated everyone with equal respect. “What was most remarkable, however, was that if you did not know who he was, you would never have realised. He treated every person as special, every person as important, and every person as worthy of his attention.”
His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, served as a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society until his passing on February 4, 2025. The Royal Commonwealth Society expressed deep sadness at the passing of their Vice-President. They lauded his lifelong dedication to improving lives across the Commonwealth through education, health, and development. They extended condolences to his family and the Ismaili community worldwide.
The British politician described the Aga Khan’s leadership as one driven by duty rather than authority, and responsibility rather than power. She highlighted his unwavering belief in the transformative power of knowledge, faith, and unity, noting that his vision extended beyond his own community.
Baroness Scotland also spoke about the transition within the Ismaili community, as His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V assumes leadership responsibilities. She compared this to the Commonwealth’s recent change following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III.
“Even in change, there is continuity,” she remarked, expressing confidence that the values championed by the late Aga Khan IV would continue to guide the Ismaili community through the capable and trusted leadership of the new Aga Khan V.
“His Highness’s passing was mourned with deep sorrow in our Commonwealth family and I share our continued condolences with his family and with the global Ismaili community.
His loss was not just that of a leader but of a visionary whose impact has rippled across the Commonwealth and beyond.
His dedication to service, to uplifting others and to the unwavering belief in the power of knowledge, faith and unity, will live long after his mortal life.
London, England. March 26th, 2025: The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Commonwealth Secretary-General, delivering the keynote address, including a touching tribute to His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. Image credit: Eastern Eye / The Ismaili National Council for the United Kingdom
Tonight as we remember, we celebrate the man and the remarkable legacy which he leaves behind. It is a legacy which reminds us that leadership is not about dominion but about duty, not about authority but about responsibility, and most of all that leadership is about service to humanity.
The Commonwealth is built upon shared values, respect for human dignity, equality, and the pursuit of peace. These values were His Late Highness’s values, he embodied them throughout his life.
He was a champion of pluralism, a bridgebuilder across faiths and nations, and a steadfast advocate for peace.
All of those who’ve come to honour him tonight, I think, are evidence of that, and his leadership spanned the period of the Commonwealth’s emergence. He understood profoundly, both the challenges and the opportunities that came with pluralist societies, so he was a good and wise friend to our Family of Nations in the face of adversity.
He worked tirelessly to protect and uplift communities, ensuring that peace was not merely an aspiration, but a lived reality. His efforts to strengthen the Ismaili community from persecution and prosecution, for example, during the harrowing days and years of Idi Amin’s regime in Uganda, were a testament of his unwavering commitment to justice and human dignity.
But his vision was always broader. He recognized that the well-being of any community was inherently linked to the stability and prosperity of the society in which it lived, and this is a lesson that the Commonwealth takes to heart in a world marked by uncertainty and fragmentation.
We are reminded that peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the presence of justice, of opportunity, of understanding. It is something we must nurture together with patience and perseverance.
This Iftar gathering itself is a profound example of interfaith understanding. You just have to look at the people sitting at your table and that gives the world, I believe, real hope at a time of darkness. You invited me, a British Caribbean Catholic, lawyer, politician, and diplomat to speak. You extended the hand of friendship to me, different background, a different tradition, but here we are, one, so we break bread together, not merely as guests at a shared table, but as members of a shared humanity.
His Late Highness understood this deeply. Through the Aga Khan Development Network, he established institutions that have transformed lives across continents, building schools and hospitals, cultural institutions, and economic initiatives which serve communities of all backgrounds irrespective of faith or of nationality.
He believed that faith should be a unifying force not a dividing line and that dialogue between peoples was the key to prosperity and peace. At the Commonwealth, we hold this principle dear. Our faith in the Commonwealth program is rooted in the belief that religious communities working together can be a powerful force for development, reconciliation and peace building. The great faiths of the world all share the same moral compass, a call to compassion, to service, to justice, and when we come together in this spirit, we discover that our differences are not obstacles, they are bridges waiting to be crossed. This is why, true successful interfaith dialogue must be active and ongoing commitment to understanding and respect and collaboration.
As we reflect tonight, let us all remember that we are all entrusted with the responsibility of fostering these bonds of unity ensuring that our faiths become instruments of hope and healing in a world which is so often seeking to divide us.”
~ The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC,
Commonwealth Secretary-General,
at the Ramadhan Iftar dinner held at the Ismaili Centre London
London, England – March 26th, 2025
Watch the full video of the Ramadhan Iftar dinner was held at the Ismaili Centre London on 26 March 26th, 2025.
Earlier:
An Observance for Commonwealth Day 2020 was held at Westminster Abbey, London, in the presence of HM The Queen and other members of the Royal family including the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The service was led by The Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle.
“The relationship between His Highness and the Royal Commonwealth Society has been invaluable, and we deeply cherish the collaboration and mutual respect that have marked our association over the years.
His unwavering support and partnership have been instrumental in advancing our shared goals, notably connecting communities and championing education. His Highness’s commitment in these areas has been truly inspiring, and his vision and leadership have helped shape the aspirations of countless young people across the Commonwealth and beyond.
The Society was honoured to have worked with His Highness as Vice-President. His lifelong commitment to education, healthcare, and development has profoundly impacted people worldwide. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
We were also privileged to have him attend and represent the Society on several occasions at the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration, where his presence and commitment were always deeply appreciated.”
His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, served as a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society until his passing on February 4, 2025. The Royal Commonwealth Society expressed deep sadness at the passing of their Vice-President. They lauded his lifelong dedication to improving lives across the Commonwealth through education, health, and development. They extended condolences to his family and the Ismaili community worldwide.
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