Senior Working Members of the Royal Family Attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2024

 

Senior working members of the British Royal Family attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 11 at Westminster Abbey. As King Charles III limited his public appearances due to his ongoing cancer treatment, Prince William and Queen Camilla led the royals at this year's annual celebration.

The senior royals who attended the service included The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and The Duke of Kent. This year's theme is "One Resilient, Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth".

Queen Camilla and Prince William led the Commonwealth Day Service

Senior members of the Royal Family attend the Commonwealth Day Service

At the service, members of the Royal Family came together to view performances and listen to reflections on this year's theme of resilience. 

Artists from diverse backgrounds came to perform. The Ghetto Kids from Uganda; Canadian pianist Spencer Klymyshyn, and the New Zealand soprano and baritone duo Isabella Moore and Benson Wilson.

William, the Prince of Wales, stepped up for his father

King Charles III pre-recorded a Commonwealth Day message

The King, who is the Head of the Commonwealth, pre-recorded a special message for the celebration and was played during the service.  

Reflections were given by Earthshot Prize-winner Notpla, who won the Prize for creating alternatives to plastic. Sir Ben Okri OBE read a commissioned poem for the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth.

The Queen and The Prince of Wales

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the modern Commonwealth. The British Commonwealth of Nations is often described as a family of nations. Its 56 member countries work together on issues as diverse as climate change, youth empowerment, and economic development.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

Queen Camilla, who wore a light blue coat dress, was seen wearing a jewelry piece that's as old as the founding of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was not seen for almost a century!

Queen Camilla wears a brooch from Queen Alexandra's collection

The double heart-shaped diamond and aquamarine brooch originally belonged to Queen Alexandra. It was inherited by Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth II, but the two queens were not seen in public wearing the brooch. 

Anne, The Princess Royal

William, The Prince of Wales

Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh

The Commonwealth Day Service was the first public appearance of the Queen after she took a break from public duty days ago, and giving most of the workload to Princess Anne. 

The Princess Royal and her younger brother, The Duke of Edinburgh, who just turned 60 on March 10, increased their loads of royal duty than usual after King Charles and Catherine, the Princess of Wales took a leave of absence due to health reasons. 

Queen Camilla arrives at Westminster Abbey for the service