LONDON (CU)_Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed by the people of the Commonwealth, from the Pacific and Asia to Europe, Africa and the Caribbean and Americas. In commemoration of the occasion, the annual Commonwealth Service will be held Westminster Abbey on Monday (14 March). Although the Queen was initially due to attend the event, Buckingham Palace has said that this will not be the case anymore.
Her Majesty, who recently recovered from COVID-19, is said to regret not being able to attend the celebration, which would have been one her biggest public appearances of the year. However, her decision to pull out of the service is reportedly owing to concerns over her discomfort in travelling. In its message Buckingham Palace said the decision was made “after discussing arrangements with the Royal Household”, and no reference was made to the health of the monarch. Instead, it is understood to be related to concerns over the Queen’s mobility and her ability to travel. “As you can see, I can’t move,” the 95-year-old monarch holding a walking cane told defence staff during a meeting last month.
At the Commonwealth Service, one of the major events in the Queen’s diary, Her Majesty will be represented by her son and heir apparent Prince Charles, while other senior royals, including the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will also be attending the ceremony. The theme for Commonwealth Day 2022 will centre around ‘Delivering a Common Future’, which is the theme for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held on 20 June in Kigali, Rwanda.
The service at Westminster Abbey on Monday will focus on Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. The attendees will be addressed by the former Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, while singers Emeli Sandé and Mica Paris will be performing. Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the event will be broadcast live on BBC One from 14:00 GMT.
