King Charles Leads Royal Family at Commonwealth Day Service After He and Kate Middleton Missed Last Year

Mar. 15, 2025

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

King Charlesis championing the royal family’s dedication to Commonwealth Day as he spread a message of unity.

The monarch was in attendance at the traditional service at Westminster Abbey alongside his son and heirPrince William, 42, andPrincess Kate, 43. Last year, both Princess Kate and Charles missed the service due to their cancer treatments.

Their Commonwealth Day appearance comes five years afterPrince HarryandMeghan Markle’s final outing as working royals at the same service — a seismic moment in royal history.

Charles’ message for the service reads: “In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe that our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and an opportunity for learning, the Commonwealth’s remarkable collection of nations and peoples come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship.”

Queen Camilla and King Charles attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

“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," he continues.

His rallying message comes just over a week since he hosted Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyat his country home, Sandringham, Norfolk. Meanwhile, Canada — of which Charles is head of state — isfacing a trade war over tariffsand U.S. PresidentDonald Trumphastalked of it becomingthe “51st state.”

The King has invited Trump to come to the U.K. for a state visit this year.

King Charles attends the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Chris Jackson/Getty

Kate Middleton and Prince William arrive for the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025 in London.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Throughout the hour-long service there were musical performances from singer songwriter Joan Armatrading, who sang her 1970s hit “Love and Affection,” the Masai Cultural Arts team, the violinist and pianist siblings Braimah and Jeneba Kanneh-Mason and Errollyn Wallen, the Master of The King’s Music.

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King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

A reflection came from Sirri ‘Cynthia’ Wakuna Ngang, a young women and girls’ rights advocate.

Music was also on King Charles’ mind earlier in the day, as his Apple Music show “The King’s Music Room” was broadcast on Apple Music Radio 1. It was largely based around artists from across the Commonwealth, fromBob Marleyto Kylie Minogue, but it also included dance hits from singersBeyoncéand Diana Ross, whose track “Upside Down” made it “absolutely impossible not to get up and dance when it was played,” Charles said during the show’s broadcast.

source: people.com