Commonwealth Day 2022

Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe.

The theme for Commonwealth Day 2022 will centre around the theme for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – 'Delivering a Common Future' – which highlights how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve goals like fighting climate change, promoting good governance and boosting trade.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will attend CHOGM 2022, on behalf of The Queen.

The event will take place in Kigali, Rwanda during the week of 20th June.  

Commonwealth Day Message

The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, sent a message to the Commonwealth:

In these testing times, it is my hope that you can draw strength and inspiration from what we share, as we work together towards a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future for all. - The Queen

Read the message in full here.

Commonwealth Day Service

The Queen, who is Head of the Commonwealth, was represented by The Prince of Wales at the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day. The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Princess Alexandra also attended the multi-faith service.

The Service was the first in-person gathering of the Commonwealth since the start of the pandemic and reflected Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Year with a special focus on the role that service plays in the lives of people and communities across the Commonwealth.

Organised by The Royal Commonwealth Society, the Service was broadcast live on BBC One in celebration of Her Majesty's lifetime commitment to the Commonwealth. 

You can catch up on the service here.

Marlborough House Reception

Following the Commonwealth Service, The Prince of Wales joined the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland, for the annual Commonwealth Day Reception at Marlborough House - the home of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Climate Action Scholarships

On Commonwealth Day, The Prince of Wales, with the University of Cambridge, launched Climate Action Scholarships for students from small island nations.

The new scholarships - announced today by the Universities of Cambridge, Toronto, Melbourne, McMaster and Montreal will support students from small island nations to address climate change.

The Countess of Wessex in New York

To mark Commonwealth Day, The Countess of Wessex visited the Queen Elizabeth II Garden, where Her Royal Highness met Consuls General from across the Commonwealth, who are based in New York.

The Garden celebrates the historic ties of friendship between the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific.

The member governments have agreed to shared goals like development, democracy and peace, with the values and principles expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.

The Queen is Head of the Commonwealth and Sovereign of 14 Commonwealth realms in addition to the UK.