Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March, and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey, normally attended by HM Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, with the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth High Commissioners in London. The Queen delivers an address to the Commonwealth, broadcast throughout the world.
Commonwealth Day is also celebrated in many member states. New Zealand marks the day with a National Observance ceremony at Wellington's Cathedral of Saint Paul, and with a service at Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Theme for 2017 - A Peace-building Commonwealth
At a time of increasing instability and uncertainty in the world, the Commonwealth family of nations in its rich diversity becomes an ever more-needed source of strength and hope for all its members. ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’ is a natural follow-on from 2016’s theme of ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’, and reaffirms the Commonwealth Charter principle that ‘international peace and security, sustainable economic growth and development and the rule of law are essential to the progress and prosperity of all’.
Previous Commonwealth Day themes
Commonwealth Day is also celebrated in many member states. New Zealand marks the day with a National Observance ceremony at Wellington's Cathedral of Saint Paul, and with a service at Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Theme for 2017 - A Peace-building Commonwealth
At a time of increasing instability and uncertainty in the world, the Commonwealth family of nations in its rich diversity becomes an ever more-needed source of strength and hope for all its members. ‘A Peace-building Commonwealth’ is a natural follow-on from 2016’s theme of ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’, and reaffirms the Commonwealth Charter principle that ‘international peace and security, sustainable economic growth and development and the rule of law are essential to the progress and prosperity of all’.
Previous Commonwealth Day themes
- 2017 A Peacebuilding
- 2016 An Inclusive Commonwealth
- 2015 A Young Commonwealth
- 2014 Team Commonwealth
- 2013 Opportunity through Enterprise
- 2012 Connecting Cultures
- 2011 Women as Agents of Change
- 2010 Science, Technology and Society
- 2009 Commonwealth@60 – Serving a New Generation
- 2008 The Environment, Our Future
- 2007 Respecting Difference, Promoting Understanding
- 2006 Health & Vitality
- 2005 Education – Creating Opportunity, Realising Potential
- 2004 Building a Commonwealth of Freedom
- 2003 Partners in Development
- 2002 Diversity
- 2001 A New Generation
- 2000 Sharing Knowledge – The Communications Challenge
- 1999 Music
- 1998 Sport Brings Us Together
- 1997 Talking to One Another
- 1996 Our Working Partnership
- 1995 Our Commonwealth Neighbourhood – Working Together for Tolerance and Understanding