Commonwealth celebrates friendship, spirit of unity and achievements

Her Majesty The Queen, who is the Head of the Commonwealth, has congratulated the 54 member countries and sovereign states making up the body as it marks the Commonwealth Day 2021 this Monday. Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe.The message issued at the weekend reflected on a time like no other as it celebrates the friendship, spirit of unity and achievements of the Commonwealth.

The Queen said:”Over the coming week, as we celebrate the friendship, spirit of unity and achievements of the Commonwealth, we have an opportunity to reflect on a time like no other.

“Whilst experiences of the last year have been different across the Commonwealth, stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory, notably by those working on the frontline who have been delivering healthcare and other public services in their communities. We have also taken encouragement from remarkable advances in developing new vaccines and treatments.

“The testing times experienced by so many have led to a deeper appreciation of the mutual support and spiritual sustenance we enjoy by being connected to others.

“The need to maintain greater physical distance, or to live and work largely in isolation, has, for many people across the Commonwealth, been an unusual experience. In our everyday lives, we have had to become more accustomed to connecting and communicating via innovative technology – which has been new to some of us – with conversations and communal gatherings, including Commonwealth meetings, conducted online, enabling people to stay in touch with friends, family, colleagues and counterparts, who they have not been able to meet in person. Increasingly, we have found ourselves able to enjoy such communication, as it offers an immediacy that transcends boundaries or division, helping any sense of distance to disappear.

“We have all continued to appreciate the support, breadth of experiences and knowledge that working together brings, and I hope we shall maintain this renewed sense of closeness and community. Looking forward, relationships with others across the Commonwealth will remain important, as we strive to deliver a common future that is sustainable and more secure, so that the nations and neighbourhoods in which we live, wherever they are located, become healthier and happier places for us all.“

The Queen’s message came as the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, also delivered a message to mark the occasion.

Commonwealth Day 2021

According to the programme of events released at the weekend, the  Commonwealth Day 2021 will be celebrated on Monday 8 March 2021, with a schedule of virtual events about which information is available below.

To comply with restrictions made necessary because of COVID-19, the Commonwealth Secretariat said it is not planning for any events to take place at Marlborough House this year.

Each year, there is usually a service held at Westminster Abbey to mark Commonwealth Day. However, due to the pandemic, no service will be held this year. Instead Her Majesty The Queen delivered her annual message in ‘A Celebration for Commonwealth Day’, which was broadcast on Sunday 7 March on BBC ONE in the UK. The service is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and the BBC’s YouTube Channel. TRH The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Countess of Wessex also took part in the programme, sharing their perspectives on the importance of our Commonwealth links. The celebration includes music, prayers and readings from others around the Commonwealth.

This year Commonwealth Day will be centred around the same theme as last year, which is also the theme for the forthcoming 2021 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The theme – ‘Delivering a Common Future’ – highlights how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve some of its biggest goals, like fighting climate change, promoting good governance and boosting trade.