Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, accompanied by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and The Duke of York will attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day – Monday 11th March 2019.
Organised by The Royal Commonwealth Society, the Commonwealth Service is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom and provides an opportunity to focus attention on this voluntary association of 53 countries and their commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for its 2.4 billion citizens.
The theme for this year’s Service, “A Connected Commonwealth”, seeks to highlight the practical value and global engagement made possible as a result of cooperation between the culturally diverse and widely dispersed family of nations, who work together in friendship and goodwill.
Highlights of the Service will include special performances by the Grammy-winning British group, Clean Bandit, and acclaimed tenor and renowned star of the stage, Alfie Boe; with a reflection by endurance swimmer, ocean advocate and the UN’s Patron of the Oceans, Lewis Pugh.
The event will also feature performances by the The Dhol Foundation, who performed at the 2012 London Olympics Closing Ceremony and The Queen’s Birthday Party concert; William Barton, the internationally celebrated didgeridoo artist who’s prodigious talent featured at the 2018 Invictus Games; and the B Positive Choir, featuring Lurine Cato, 2018 finalists in Britain’s Got Talent.
Guests of honour among the 2,000 strong congregation will include the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland QC, High Commissioners, Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, senior politicians, dignitaries from across the UK and Commonwealth, faith leaders and over 800 school children and young people.
The Commonwealth Service will be broadcast live on BBC One from 14:15 GMT. It will be relayed live on the BBC World Service and streamed live on the BBC YouTube channel.
Commenting on the theme of this year’s event, Chief Executive of The Royal Commonwealth Society, Dr Greg Munro said, “The Commonwealth Service celebrates a unique network of countries – all distinct and all equal. It is a day for us to recognise our similarities and celebrate our differences, and look to the future of the Commonwealth and at what we can all contribute by working in partnership.”(End)