King Charles Speaks of His Mother’s “Long And Remarkable Life” in His First Commonwealth Day Message
Last year, Prince Charles stepped in for a frail Queen Elizabeth at the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. And today he attended the service for the first time as head of the Commonwealth, a role he took on when his mother died last September.
The King was joined by the Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie—who have recently become the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh—and Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence. The service aims to highlight and celebrate the Commonwealth, which today is made up of 56 countries, most (but not all) of which were once in the British Empire.
“Commonwealth Day was an occasion of particular pride for my beloved mother, the late Queen—a treasured opportunity to celebrate our Commonwealth family, to whose service she dedicated her long and remarkable life,” the King said in his first Commonwealth Day message, delivered from the Great Pulpit to the 2,000-strong congregation. “In succeeding Her Majesty as head of the Commonwealth, I draw great strength from her example, together with all that I have learnt from the extraordinary people I have met, throughout the Commonwealth, over so many years.”
Unlike the role of head of state in the UK and Commonwealth Realms, the position of head of the Commonwealth is not hereditary. However, after Queen Elizabeth publicly backed her son to succeed her in this role, Commonwealth leaders decided on him as their next head during a meeting at Windsor Castle in April 2018. Before today's service began, the congregation sang national anthem God Save the King.
The Queen Consort paid tribute to the late Queen with her choice of dress, accessorizing with Queen Elizabeth's sapphire and diamond brooch. She pinned this to a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare and wore a beret by Philip Treacy.
“The Commonwealth has been a constant in my own life, and yet its diversity continues to amaze and inspire me. Its near-boundless potential as a force for good in the world demands our highest ambition; its sheer scale challenges us to unite and be bold,” the King said. He concluded, “The myriad connections between our nations have sustained and enriched us for more than seven decades. Our commitment to peace, progress and opportunity will sustain us for many more. Let ours be a Commonwealth that not only stands together, but strives together, in restless and practical pursuit of the global common good.”
The service was broadcast live in the UK on BBC One and included speeches and performances representing voices from across the Commonwealth. West End stars Roshani Abbey and Nuwan Hugh Perera, and the all-female Amalgamation Choir from Cyprus gave performances.
There are currently 56 countries in the Commonwealth, with Gabon and Togo joining in 2022. The organization has a population of 2.5 billion people, of which it is estimated around 60 percent are under 30 years old. The Commonwealth Day theme for 2023 is “Forging a Sustainable and Peaceful Common Future.” At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting of 2022 in Rwanda, it was decided that this year would be dedicated to youth-led action for sustainable and inclusive development.
Guests at the service included High Commissioners, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the UK and the Commonwealth, alongside athletes who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last summer, faith leaders, and over 750 school children and young people from throughout the UK.
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