Commonwealth at the Abbey
Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations. It recognises the unity and diversity of this remarkable family of nations.
Westminster Abbey celebrates the occasion with a special service that takes place on the second Monday of March each year.
2023 Commonwealth Day
The King celebrates Commonwealth Day at the Abbey
This year's service is his first as monarch
Read the news story
What is the Commonwealth?
Today’s Commonwealth was formally established by the 1949 London Declaration, which modernised the community and acknowledged the member states as free and equal.
The modern Commonwealth is an association of 56 member states with a combined population of 2.4 billion citizens, almost a third of the world's people. Commonwealth countries span Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. Members are diverse – they are amongst the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, and are home to myriad cultures and religions. The two newest members are Gabon and Togo, who joined in 2022.
All members have an equal say regardless of size or wealth, ensuring even the smallest countries have a voice in shaping the Commonwealth.
Services
The Commonwealth Day service has been held at the Abbey since 1972. The service is often attended by the monarch along with other members of the Royal Family. They are joined by representatives from the Commonwealth nations, which are also represented in the procession of flags at the start of the service.
Commonwealth at the Abbey
Find out our more about the Abbey's connection with the Commonwealth and discover resources and events.
