The Royal Week 12-18 March 2022

Monday 14th March

The second Monday in March is Commonwealth Day, which is an annual celebration observed by people all across the 54 Commonwealth countries.

The Queen is head of The Commonwealth and sent a message to mark the day:

In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, it has given me pleasure to renew the promise I made in 1947, that my life will always be devoted in service. - The Queen

Her Majesty 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.

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.

The Duke of Kent got involved in Commonwealth Day celebrations by attending the Commonwealth Day Service at Bristol Cathedral, before opening the Trinity Academy in the city.

The Countess of Wessex began engagements in New York City while in the USA on a working visit, and started the trip by marking Commonwealth Day at the Queen Elizabeth II Garden.

Her Royal Highness then visited St George’s Society of New York, the second oldest charitable organisation in New York City, followed by United Nations Commonwealth Day reception.

As Patron of the Butler Trust, The Princess Royal attended the charity’s annual Awards Ceremony.

Her Royal Highness later held a reception at St James’s Palace for the Acid Survivors Trust. The Princess is Patron of the charity which supports survivors of acid attacks, and works to end acid violence across the globe.

Tuesday 15th March

The Queen held two virtual Audiences with incoming Ambassadors, before welcoming the Governor General of Canada for tea at Windsor Castle.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall also met the Governor General at Clarence House.

Earlier in the day, Their Royal Highnesses visited the Irish Cultural Centre in London to celebrate the centre’s 25th anniversary in the run up to St Patrick’s Day.

Next week, The Prince and The Duchess will visit the Republic of Ireland.

The Princess Royal hosted an Investiture Ceremony at Windsor Castle.

On her second day in New York, The Countess of Wessex joined UN Women representatives and NGOs at a briefing on the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on women and girls.

In the evening, Her Royal Highness delivered the keynote address at ‘Upholding Women’s Rights in Afghanistan’.

Wednesday 16th March

The Queen presented The Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry to the 2021 winner, Grace Nichols, at an Audience at Windsor Castle.

The Gold Medal for Poetry was established by King George V in 1933 at the suggestion of the then Poet Laureate, John Masefield, and is awarded for excellence in poetry.

Grace Nichols is a Guyanese poet who moved to Britain at the age of 27.  Her first collection of poetry I Is a Long-Memoried Woman (1983) won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize.

The Prince of Wales hosted an Investiture Ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The Earl of Wessex arrived in Kenya in his role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

In Aberdare Open Fields, close to Treetops - where 70 years ago The Queen received the news of her Accession – His Royal Highness planted a tree as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

The tree planting came after The Earl met young people taking part in their Gold Award expedition and heard first-hand about the efforts being undertaken to support environmental conservation. Participants in the Award have planted more than 30,000 trees across Kenya in the past year as part of efforts to tackle climate change.

On her final day in New York, The Countess of Wessex attended a lunch hosted by the British Consulate in New York for 100 Women in Finance before meeting women in leadership roles from JP Morgan and British Airways.

In support of 100 Women in Finance’s Next Generation Initiative, Her Royal Highness attended a First Impressions dinner, which gave young women and girls the opportunity to learn more about a career in finance.

Thursday 17th March

The Queen held two virtual Audiences for incoming Ambassadors.

To mark St Patrick’s Day, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Irish Guard’s traditional St Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot.

Their Royal Highnesses presented the shamrock to Officers and Warrant Officers, alongside their  mascot Seamus, the Irish wolfhound.

On the second day of his visit to Kenya, The Earl of Wessex visited the Kenyan President, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, at the State House Nairobi.

Friday 18th March

The Prince of Wales, Patron of The Queen's Green Canopy, planted a tree at The National Arboretum.

On the final day of his visit Kenya, The Earl of Wessex planted a tree in memory of his father, who founded The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 1956.

His Royal Highness also presented Bronze and Silver Awards to the 150 young people following a manyatta mentorship session, where the awardees interacted with mentors who passed on their experiences of work, business, and life in general.