The Princess of Wales was the crowning glory at Westminster Abbey today as she and the King made their first appearance at the annual Commonwealth Day Service of celebration in two years.
Both the monarch and his daughter-in-law were reluctantly forced to miss last year’s key royal event as they were undergoing treatment for their respective cancers.
This year, however, King Charles led a large showing of senior royals which also included Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Walking alongside Prince William, Kate, 43, dressed to impress in her red Catherine Walker Beau Tie coat dress, which she’s worn twice before in December 2022 and November 2023, as well as a matching £450 red hat from Gina Foster.
The royal party were greeted by the Dean and Westminster before meeting members of the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band, a community band from the world’s first Hindu eco-temple in Kingsbury, north London.
Following their performance at the Great West Door, the King – who is head of the Commonwealth – and his family formed a procession behind the Commonwealth Mace Bearer, three-time Paralympic champion and two-time world champion track cyclist Kadeena Cox.
Heritage Sanmi Lawal, a Commonwealth Youth Gender and Equality Network member from Nigeria, carried the Commonwealth flag.
It comes as the King emphasised the ‘vital role’ of the global ‘family of nations’ at a time of international conflict and uncertainty in his annual message.
The Princess of Wales was the crowning glory at Westminster Abbey today as she and the King made their first appearance at the annual Commonwealth Day Service of celebration for two years
Walking alongside Prince William , Kate, 43, dressed to impress in her red Catherine Walker Beau Tie coat dress, which she’s worn twice before in December 2022 and November 2023
The Prince and Princess of Wales at annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey
The Princess teamed her elegant dress with a matching £450 red hat from Gina Foster
He said: ‘Last October, leaders from across the Commonwealth came together in Samoa to reaffirm their “belief in the value of the Commonwealth as a trusted forum where diverse voices of our member states, the large and the small, the young and the old, come together as one family.”
‘In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe that our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and an opportunity for learning, the Commonwealth’s remarkable collection of nations and peoples come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship.’
The Commonwealth is one of the world’s oldest political associations of states, with its roots in the British Empire.
However the last four countries to join the 56 member organisation had no links with British colonialism, emphasising its role as a voluntary organisation of independent and equal nations.
Its population is in excess of 2.7 billion, with some 60 per cent aged 29 or under, and a combined GDP of more than $13 trillion.
To mark Commonwealth Day, a global celebration of the organisation, the King also highlighted how, as the world marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, more than one a half million men and women who fought and served in it came from member states.
He said: ‘The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today.
‘Leaders recently reiterated the importance of collaboration for peace and human rights, as well as for the restoration of nature both on land and in the oceans.
Kate smiles as she arrives at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey today
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at the Commonwealth Day service this afternoon
Kate smiles as she arrives at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey today
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at the Commonwealth Day service this afternoon
Kate smiles as she arrives at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey today
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at the Commonwealth Day service this afternoon
King Charles III arrives at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey today
‘As we mark this Commonwealth Day together, there is no more important task than to restore the disrupted harmony of our entire planet.
‘For the sake of our younger generations’ threatened future, I can only hope that the Commonwealth will continue its vital work to restore that harmony.’
This year’s Commonwealth Day theme is ‘Together We Thrive’, celebrating the ‘enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family’.
Today’s service will feature special musical performances including traditional Masai singers, percussionists, musicians, acrobats and dancers, as well as Joan Armatrading CBE reforming an arrangement of Love and Affection.
Since 1969, the King has visited 48 of the Commonwealth states.
