The King celebrates Commonwealth Day at the Abbey

Monday, 10th March 2025

King Charles III shaking hands with a chorister. He is standing next to Queen Camilla

Their Majesties The King and The Queen attended the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday 10th March.

They were accompanied by TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales, HRH The Princess Royal, and TRH The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Marked every year since the 1970s, Commonwealth Day recognises the unity and diversity of a remarkable family of nations, with a special service organised in the Abbey with the Royal Commonwealth Society at the heart of the celebrations.

The theme for this year’s service was ‘Together We Thrive.’ 

About the service

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who said in his bidding:

'We gather, in this house of prayer, to rejoice in our common life. We are God’s people in a Commonwealth of Nations. As different peoples we rejoice in this opportunity to reflect, in mutual respect, on our shared dignity and commitment to the service of others. We celebrate the love and affection that binds us in unity and gives us resilience and strength.'


There were performances by acts from around the Commonwealth including African arts group Masai Cultural Arts; English singer and songwriter Joan Armatrading; Braimah (violin) and Jeneba (piano) Kanneh-Mason; and opera singer Aivale Cole.

The Prime Minister of Samoa, The Honourable Fiamē Naomi, gave a reading from 1 Corinthians 12. Leanne Ellul, poet, read A Resume of Bees. 

Reflections were given by the Abbey's Commonwealth Theologian, the Reverend Canon Dr Ishaya Anthony; and by Cynthia Wakuna, a gender equality campaigner from Cameroon.

 

Prayers were led by the Reverend Robert Latham, Minor Canon and Sacrist; and said by faith leaders Fr Słavomir Witoń, Dean, Westminster Cathedral; the Reverend Tony Miles, Superintendent Minister, Methodist Central Hall Westminster; and the Reverend Mark Birch MVO, Canon in Residence. 

The Right Honourable Baroness Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, led the Act of Affirmation to the Commonwealth.

The service was sung by The Choir of Westminster Abbey, conducted by Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers. The organ was played by Matthew Jorysz, Sub-Organist.

Among the 2000-strong congregation were High Commissioners, senior political figures from the UK and the Commonwealth, faith leaders, and some of the home nations athletes. They were joined by school children and young people throughout the UK. 

Order of service

Commonwealth Day Service 2025: Order of Service

Watch the service 

You can watch the Commonwealth Day service on the BBC’s YouTube channel.

About the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Day

The Commonwealth is an association of 56 member states with a combined population of 2.7 billion citizens, almost a third of the world's people. Commonwealth countries span Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific and are diverse – they are amongst the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. 

Held on the second Monday of March each year, the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey celebrates the people and cultures of all of the Commonwealth nations.

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