Annual Commonwealth Day Celebration has been cancelled due to the Pandemic

The Royal Family

 

Annual Commonwealth Day Service is a prominent event of the Royal Calendar. The service is organized by the Royal Commonwealth Society every year in March on the second Monday. The Commonwealth, headed by the British Monarch, represents a global network of 54 countries.

 

 

 

Due to the Pandemic, this year's Commonwealth Day service has been cancelled. The Daily Express reported, 

 

"She has reluctantly agreed that the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey cannot go ahead as usual. Even if lock down restrictions are eased by then, March 8, social distancing rules will make it impossible to have the abbey filled with 2,000 people taking part in a multi-faith ceremony. It normally involves performers from all over the Common-wealth celebrating the 54-nation association. The organizers are looking at arranging a possible alternative celebration."

There are reports that there could be a small event filmed at the Abbey or somewhere else. Continuing from The Daily Express,

A spokesman for Westminster Abbey said: “Because of the pandemic we are talking with the Royal Household, the Royal Commonwealth Society, and the BBC about the best way to celebrate.”

The Commonwealth Secretariat confirmed it had cancelled an annual reception that the Queen normally attends at Marlborough House after the service at Westminster Abbey.

It said the day would be celebrated with an extensive schedule of virtual events, “about which more information will soon be made available”. It added: “To comply with restrictions made necessary because of Covid-19, the Secretariat is not planning for any events to take place at Marlborough House this year.”

 

The Commonwealth Day Service in March 2020 was the last big Royal event where Her Majesty The Queen was  joined by the members of the Royal Family. Other big Royal events like Royal Ascot, The Order of Garter Services are also under uncertainty.