King Charles has described the Commonwealth as a powerful force for unity in what he called an increasingly “fragmented world”, in a message delivered for the annual Commonwealth Day service in London.
The King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Princess Anne joined more than 1,800 guests at Westminster Abbey for the service, the largest gathering of senior royals since the recent arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Outside the Abbey, anti-monarchy campaign group Republic staged a protest, displaying placards reading “What did you know?”, referring to the former prince’s reported links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Inside the Abbey, the service brought together political leaders, diplomats, faith representatives and members of the public from across the 56 Commonwealth nations. Among those present was Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
In his message, the King described the Commonwealth as a family of nations bound by shared values of justice, democracy, opportunity, compassion and mutual respect. Against a backdrop of global conflicts, climate challenges and rapid change, he said the Commonwealth had the potential to be a powerful “force for good”.
The ceremony also celebrated the cultural diversity of the Commonwealth. Performances included steel pan music, dancers from the Royal Ballet School, singers Indigo Marshall and Tarju Le’Sano, and the world premiere of the Commonwealth Symphony by composer Rekesh Chauhan. The piece, performed with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, incorporated musical elements representing all 56 Commonwealth nations.
Trupti Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain, offered the ancient Vedic mantra Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning “The World is One Family”, highlighting the idea that global prosperity depends on treating every human being with the care one would extend to their own family.
Women of the World War honoured at Memorial Gates
Alongside the service, a remembrance ceremony was held at London’s Memorial Gates to honour the extraordinary contributions of women during the First and Second World Wars. The annual Commonwealth Day wreath-laying brought together High Commissioners, armed forces representatives, veterans and faith leaders to reflect on the sacrifices that shaped the modern world.
This year’s theme, Women in War, recognised the courage and leadership of women whose roles have often been overlooked in historical narratives. From resistance networks in occupied Europe to hospitals in South Asia and civil defence across Africa and the Caribbean, women served in intelligence, communications, nursing, logistics and frontline support.
Among those remembered was Noor Inayat Khan, the British-Indian Special Operations Executive agent who served in occupied France during the Second World War. The ceremony also honoured women including Margaret MacDonald of Canada, Constance Mark of Jamaica, Vivian Bullwinkel of Australia, Comfort Adeoye of Nigeria, Indira Sinha of Sri Lanka and Begum Pasha Shah of India.
India was represented at the memorial by Defence Advisor Commodore MB Dongre, who paid tribute to the five million servicemen and women from across the Commonwealth who served in the World Wars. Lord Karan Bilimoria and Ashok Chauhan MBE were also in attendance.
Defence Hindu Chaplain Acharya Krishan K Attri MBE said the day was an opportunity to recognise the vital role played by Indian and Commonwealth women during both conflicts. “From nurses caring for the wounded on distant fronts to factory workers, miners and labour corps members supporting the Allied effort in India, these women showed extraordinary courage and resilience,” he said.
Historian and author Shrabani Basu added that remembrance must extend beyond those whose names appear in official records. “Today we honour not only the women whose names are recorded in history, but also the countless others whose stories were never fully told. Noor Inayat Khan represents the quiet courage of so many Commonwealth women who stepped forward in moments of global crisis,” she said.
Their service, she noted, challenges society to broaden its understanding of remembrance and ensure future generations recognise the full breadth of contributions made in defence of freedom.
