On March 13th, King Charles III will be making his first Commonwealth Day address as monarch at Westminster Abbey. Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration of the Commonwealth of

Nations, which was previously known as Empire Day. The day is celebrated on the second Monday of March and features a service at Westminster Abbey that is attended by the Head of the Commonwealth, who is the monarch.

While the Commonwealth nations do not have ambassadors, they have High Commissioners who all attend the service in London. Along with diplomats, artists from various Commonwealth nations will attend and perform during the service. This year's performers will include the Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club, an all-female choir from Cyprus, and the Rwandan National Ballet, among others.

The Great Pulpit at Westminster Abbey will be the location from which King Charles will deliver his Commonwealth Day address. In 2022, Prince Charles gave an address on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was recovering from illness.

The Commonwealth of Nations is comprised of 56 nations around the world, with a combined population of 2.5 billion people. Over 60% of this population is under the age of 30, and the Commonwealth has made climate action a priority as a way to focus on peace and prosperity.

The theme for Commonwealth Day 2023 is "Forging a Sustainable and Peaceful Common Future," which is a particularly poignant theme for the Year of Peace in the Commonwealth. A new Commonwealth Flag for Peace will be displayed during the celebrations.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will be joined by members of the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day service this year. The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, and The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will all attend the service.

In conclusion, the upcoming Commonwealth Day celebrations offer an opportunity to celebrate the values and principles of the Commonwealth of Nations. With a focus on sustainability, peace, and prosperity, the Commonwealth Day service and address by King Charles III will emphasize the importance of working together for a common future. Photo by Dan Marsh, Wikimedia commons.