The service marked the first time since the pandemic began that an in-person Commonwealth service could take place. The last Commonwealth Day service was in March 2020,which was also the last joint royal outing that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attended before officially stepping back as senior working members of the royal family.
The Queen encouraged the “family of nations to come together for the “common good” in her message to 2.6 billion citizens of the Commonwealth.
“We are nourished and sustained by our relationships and,throughout my life,I have enjoyed the privilege of hearing what the relationships built across the great reach and diversity of the Commonwealth have meant to people and communities.
“Our family of nations continues to be a point of connection,co-operation and friendship.
“In these testing times,it is my hope that you can draw strength and inspiration from what we share,as we work together towards a healthy,sustainable and prosperous future for all.
The Queen,who will be 96 next month,is already working a carefully paced public schedule as she makes concessions to older age.
Buckingham Palace confirmed ahead of the service that the Queen would be represented at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) by Charles and his wife Camilla,the Duchess of Cornwall. He last represented his mother at the event nine years ago when it was held in Sri Lanka.
The meeting,which will take place in Kigali,Rwanda,in June has been postponed for two years due to the pandemic.
The Queen attended the last CHOGM,in London,and made clear she would not be travelling overseas any longer.
Ahead of the meeting,Charles echoed his mother’s words in a written statement for Commonwealth Day.
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“As the world works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,and in this Jubilee year,it is more important than ever that the countries of the Commonwealth come together,” he said.
“As a family of some 2.6 billion people from 54 nations across six continents,the Commonwealth represents a rich diversity of traditions,experience and talents which can help to build a more equal,sustainable and prosperous future.”