By Elishya Perera
LONDON (CU)_Queen Elizabeth II, the Head of the Commonwealth, is set to deliver a royal address on Sunday (7 March) in honour of the Commonwealth Day, an annual marker celebrating the union of the Commonwealth nations across Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean and Americas.
Instead of the usual service at Westminster Abbey, this year the commemoration will primarily take place virtually, in a BBC One programme, A Celebration for Commonwealth Day, in which the monarch is expected to be joined by several other senior royals.
The special feature will showcase the Queen’s Commonwealth Day message, along with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
“In Her Majesty’s annual Commonwealth Day message, the Queen will pay tribute to the way in which communities across the family of nations have come together in response to the pandemic,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
Moreover, the Prince of Wales has also recorded a special message, in which he will acknowledge and celebrate the critical work being carried out by the 54 member states of the association in order to combat climate change, protect their unique landscapes, biodiversity and marine environments.
With Prince Charles’ wife recently having launched her Instagram book club, The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room, she will also appear on the BBC programme as she is expected to speak about the importance of books and reading for children across the Commonwealth, particularly during the recent times of disrupted education and isolation.
On the other hand, the programme will feature the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge speaking with medical, voluntary and charity staff from across the member states, and appreciate the significant role they’ve played in their communities amidst the pandemic.
With International Women’s Day being celebrated on 8 March, the Countess of Wessex, who has often been vocal about rights of women, will speak to three women from across the Commonwealth, and shed light on their experiences in supporting women in their communities. Since International Women’s Day in 2019, the Countess has championed the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) of the United Kingdom.
According to Buckingham Palace, the Commonwealth theme for this year is ‘Delivering A Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, and seeks to celebrate the efforts of the member states in achieving their common goals, including boosting trade, protecting natural resources and developing a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for all. The BBC programme will shine light on the monarch’s “lifetime commitment” to the Commonwealth, as the Head of the association since 1952.
A Celebration for Commonwealth Day will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 7 March at 5.00pm (GMT).
