Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II led the Commonwealth Day celebrations in London on Monday joined by members of the royal family as the head of the 54-member organisation, including Bangladesh.
The 93-year-old monarch, who is the Head of the Commonwealth, attended an annual multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey to mark this year’s event, themed around “Delivering a common future” to highlight how member countries are “innovating, connecting and transforming” to help achieve some of its biggest goals.
“Advances in technology and modern media have now enabled many more people to witness and enjoy - with remarkable immediacy - this experience of Commonwealth connection, in areas such as education, medicine and conservation,” the Queen said in her message.
“As members of this very special community, on this Commonwealth Day, I hope that the people and countries of the Commonwealth will be inspired by all that we share, and move forward with fresh resolve to enhance the Commonwealth’s influence for good in our world,” she said.
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, joined Prince William and wife Kate Middleton - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Prince Charles and wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at the event. It marked the first time Harry and Meghan appeared with all other senior members of the royal family since announcing their intention to "step back" as senior royals in January. After the service, they are expected to return to their current base in Canada and will cease to be working members of the royal family as they begin their new financially independent lives from April 1.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who also joined the ceremony with partner Carrie Symonds, described the organisation as the world’s greatest family of nations in his message.
“The Commonwealth has over 70 years of history as a driver for peace, democracy and human rights around the world. It gives a voice to its member states and the 2.4 billion Commonwealth citizens around the world,” he said in a message released by Downing Street.
“Over 60 per cent of those citizens are under 30 years old and it is for them in particular we must look, not just to the past successes of the Commonwealth, but to its future. With the world facing increasingly difficult challenges from climate change to global health security, we need the cooperation and understanding that the Commonwealth brings more than ever. I am extremely proud that the UK, as the current Chair-in-Office, is at the heart of this unique global family,” he said.
The UK will be passing on the Chair-in-office to Rwanda later this year, where the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is scheduled in Kigali in June.
UK foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “As an institution uniting 2.4 billion people across 54 countries, the Commonwealth is unique in the diversity of its partnerships, spanning six continents and making up a fifth of all global trade.
“We are tackling some of the largest global challenges through the Commonwealth, from combatting climate change to preventing cyber-crime, and creating a brighter future for the next generation.”
With the Maldives re-admitted recently, the Commonwealth is made of 54 countries with a connection to the former British Empire and Commonwealth Day is held in the UK in early March every year with events also held across the member-nations.