Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey

The Prince and Princess of Wales , Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester joined King Charles III and Queen Camilla for the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9th. The King is the Head of the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth Service is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom.

Upon their arrival at Westminster Abbey, the King and Queen were met by the Dean of Westminster. The annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration commenced with a procession of Commonwealth member states’ flags, following by the Procession of the Royal Family.

The King and Queen and members of the Royal Family joined a 1,800 strong congregation in Westminster Abbey to celebrate Commonwealth Day 2026. Inspired by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 theme Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth, the 2026 Commonwealth Day Service celebrates collaboration as the defining strength of the modern Commonwealth.

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This year’s service features several landmark artistic moments. These include the world premiere of the Commonwealth Symphony composed by Rekesh Chauhan and a bespoke dance collaboration between the Royal Ballet School and Sapnay Entertainments Ltd., uniting classical ballet and Bollywood in a powerful expression of cross-cultural partnership.

The service also included an address from Royal Commonwealth Society Ambassador Geri Halliwell-Horner, a reflection from Oti Mabuse and a poem from Selina Tusitala Marsh, the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate. Additional performances will include a Scottish Ceilidh band, the Melodians Steel Drum Orchestra, and further special reflections and readings from notable guests.