It’s always one of the big days in the royal family’s calendar – when they all join forces annually at Westminster Abbey in London to celebrate Commonwealth Day.
This year, they were able to put on a united front and show how they’re back to full strength for the first time in two years after the King and the Princess of Wales missed the service last year due to both having cancer.
The return of the Monarch and the future queen, alongside Queen Camilla, 77, Prince William, 42, Princess Anne, 74, and other senior royals is an encouraging sign that things are back to normal after such turbulence in the family.
This time last year, Kate had yet to drop the bombshell that medical professionals had diagnosed her with an undisclosed type of cancer following abdominal surgery and were performing preventative chemotherapy. Until that announcement came via a personal video on March 22, 11 days after the Commonwealth Day service, rumours swirled about what was wrong with the missing princess, who had not been seen in public since Christmas.
This year, things were very different. After Kate, 43, took most of 2024 off to deal with her illness before announcing in January this year that she was in remission, she is back at work. She has been representing the royal family with her usual dignity and grace, although she’s now attending fewer engagements than she has in previous years.
She looked delighted to be with her in-laws at Westminster Abbey for the service, which celebrates the Commonwealth nations, including New Zealand.
The King, 76, looked equally pleased to be back. Although he didn’t make it to the service last year, His Majesty – who people believe is still undergoing ongoing treatment for his undisclosed type of cancer – did record a video announcement ahead of the big day.
This year, Charles, Head of the Commonwealth, spoke on the theme “Together We Thrive” and focused on the “enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family”.
The King said, “In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and an opportunity for learning, the Commonwealth’s remarkable collection of nations and people come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship.”
According to British media, his use of the words “uncertain times” is telling. They believe he currently feels very concerned about the stoush between Canada and the US over tariffs and the withdrawal of American support from Ukraine.
As Canada’s Head of State, he has been carefully watching as outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his replacement Mark Carney have stood up to US President Donald Trump.
A source close to His Majesty says, “While it is business as usual, with everything on a heightened level of significance, Canada is particularly on his mind.”
Meanwhile, every Commonwealth Day service the royal family now attends reminds them of when Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 43, made their very last appearance as senior working royals. It’s been five years since the pair stood alongside the rest of the family at the service before leaving their roles for a new life in the US.
According to royal author Robert Lacey, while Meghan turned on a “megawatt TV smile”, Harry’s intense blinking suggested he was “fighting tears”, knowing this was the final time he would be carrying out royal duties.
Listen to Charles
His Majesty has revealed some of the songs that make him want to jump up and dance – and they may surprise you.
In the first podcast ever made by a UK monarch, Charles talks in The King’s Music Room about his playlist of tunes he loves by Commonwealth artists. One of the most obvious choices is E Te Iwi E by one of his favourite singers, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
But some of the other numbers are unexpected, including Could You Be Loved by Bob Marley and the 1982 calypso song Hot Hot Hot by singer Arrow.
Kylie Minogue’s version of The Loco-Motion also makes the list. “This is music for dancing… it has that infectious energy which makes it, I find, incredibly hard to sit still.”
His list includes two “non-Commonwealth” songs – Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love, and Diana Ross’ 1980 hit single Upside Down.
“When I was much younger, it was absolutely impossible not to get up and dance when it was played,” says the King. “So I wonder if I can still just manage it?”
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