The service in honor of the Commonwealth of States is actually an integral part of Queen Elizabeth II’s calendar.
London – The venerable Commonwealth Day will be celebrated in Great Britain this Monday without the presence of the Queen. Ironically, in the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th jubilee (95), the central service in Westminster Abbey had to take place without the monarch.
Your participation was canceled at short notice on Friday evening and without giving any further reasons. Instead, she will be represented by her son Prince Charles (73). The Queen still wanted to send a message, it was said in advance from Buckingham Palace.
1500 guests expected
The service in honor of the Commonwealth of Nations is actually an integral part of the Queen’s calendar. It is taking place this year for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic. 1,500 guests are expected to visit him, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Originally, the Queen wanted to be there in person – it would have been her first appearance among many people since she had to cut back and cancel several appointments for health reasons last fall. Only recently did she survive a corona infection. However, she will make other appointments in the coming week, including personal audiences, it said.
Commonwealth Day, known as Empire Day until 1958, has been celebrated in the United Kingdom since the early 20th century. It falls on the second Monday in March every year. The aim is to celebrate the solidarity, diversity and shared values of the 54 independent member states of the Commonwealth family. The Queen’s Jubilee should play an important role this year. Composer Debbie Wiseman’s track ‘Beacon of Brightest Light’, inspired by the Queen’s platinum jubilee, will celebrate its world premiere. dpa
