Commonwealth Day was celebrated on 10 March and reaffirmed our shared commitment to the principles of unity, peace and equality. This year’s theme, ‘Together We Thrive’, was celebrated across 56 Commonwealth member countries, demonstrating how working together can build a future defined by opportunity and resilience.
There were many high-profile activities in London and across the world, communities, organisations and governments organised functions and celebrated the values that unite the Commonwealth.
In London, Commonwealth Day began with a flag-raising at the House of Commons. It was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates to commemorate more than five million Commonwealth soldiers who served and lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.
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The Secretary-General read the Affirmation at the multi-faith service of celebration at Westminster Abbey in London. The audience at Westminster Abbey included His Majesty King Charles III, Her Majesty the Queen, Their Royal Highnesses Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness Princess of Wales, The Princess Royal, foreign ministers, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Commonwealth Secretary-General-Elect Her Excellency Shirley Botchwey, High Commissioners, senior government officials, dignitaries, Commonwealth Games athletes, faith leaders, and over 700 schoolchildren from across the United Kingdom.
Over 2,000 people from around the Commonwealth attended the service.
The gathering was also addressed by the Prime Minister of Samoa Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, Cynthia Wakuna from the Commonwealth Says NO MORE campaign and Leanne Ellul, an award-winning Maltese poet. The event was broadcast live on BBC's YouTube channel.
In addition to the messages, those at the Abbey were welcomed by the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band and during the service there were live performances from Braimah and Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, Aivale Cole and Errollyn Wallen CBE, Masai Cultural Arts, and Future Talent to represent all the regions of the Commonwealth. As a finale, Joan Armatrading CBE and her band performed a touching rendition of Love and Affection.
A wonderful tradition, now customary, is the young people from across the Commonwealth who carry the flags of the 56 member countries as well as the Commonwealth, most wearing national dress to reflect the diversity across the countries.
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Directly following the Abbey service, His Majesty The King, Patron of Commonwealth Sport, launched the inaugural Commonwealth Sport King’s Baton Relay for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games at Buckingham Palace. As the first Baton-bearer, Sir Chris Hoy, former track cyclist, walked through the Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace to the Centre Arch. Gabriella Wood, Olympic and Commonwealth Judoka from Trinidad and Tobago then delivered the baton to Secretary-General Scotland at the Commonwealth Headquarters, Marlborough House, carrying a special message from The King.
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A Commonwealth Day reception at Marlborough House closed the day’s events. A highlight of the evening was the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize, awarded to Rev Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa for their tireless work in peacebuilding.
Presented by Secretary-General Scotland and Sir Nasser David Khalili, the award recognizes those advancing peace across the Commonwealth.
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The occasion was marked by the debut of Love in Peace, a song by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Ben Elton and Bruno Major, performed by singers from The BRIT School and The Queen’s College Choir, Oxford.
Ahead of Commonwealth Day, in his role as Head of the Commonwealth, His Majesty King Charles III shared a message with the 2.7 billion citizens of the Commonwealth.
In his message, His Majesty The King said:
“The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today. Leaders recently reiterated the importance of collaboration for peace and human rights, as well as for the restoration of Nature both on land and in the oceans.
“As we mark this Commonwealth Day together, there is no more important task than to restore the disrupted harmony of our entire planet. For the sake of our younger generations’ threatened future, I can only hope that the Commonwealth will continue its vital work to restore that harmony.”
Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, in her last Commonwealth Day Message as Commonwealth Secretary-General shared that during her tenure the Commonwealth was reformed and modernised to maximise the quality and impact of service to the Commonwealth. She said:
“During times of profound crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid intensification of climate change, an increase in conflict around the world, and persistent inequality, we have never wavered in our duty to one another.
“And together, we have built the strongest foundations to rise to these challenges, and to seize the opportunities of a changing world.”
Commonwealth Day 2025 heralds an important year as the Commonwealth Secretariat will celebrate its 60th year in 2025.
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Watch the BBC broadcast of the Commonwealth Day Service on YouTube
View a Flickr album of Commonwealth Day events
