Queen praises ‘strength of the Commonwealth’

HRH Queen Elizabeth II: Speech to mark Commonwealth Day. Picture: Getty

THE QUEEN has used her Commonwealth Day message to praise the family of nations as a “powerful influence of good for the future”.

She stressed that experiences across the Commonwealth may be different but everyone is focused on the same goals.

In her annual address, she highlighted this year’s Commonwealth theme – Team Commonwealth – and how nations understood they could achieve more by working together.

The Queen’s pre-recorded message formed part of the annual Observance of Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey yesterday afternoon attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and a host of dignitaries. In her address, the Queen, who is head of the Commonwealth, said: “People of all ages from different cultures are weaving an ever-growing network of links which connect us It is this unity that is expressed in this year’s theme: Team Commonwealth.”