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Students from Archbishop Holgate’s School to celebrate Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey with members of the Royal Family and British Government

On Monday 12th March, students from Archbishop Holgate’s School in York will travel to London to join 700 children and young people from across the UK in celebration of Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey. The event is the largest annual multi-faith Service in the UK and is typically attended by Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, senior members of the Royal Family, High Commissioners, Commonwealth Heads of State and specially invited guests.

The Commonwealth Service will be broadcast live on the BBC and will celebrate the 2018 Commonwealth theme of ‘Towards a Common Future,’ looking forward to The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London this Spring. The aim of the Service is to celebrate the unity, diversity and linkages of the modern Commonwealth and foster greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and role.

The students and I are very excited about being given this wonderful opportunity. We are looking forward to spending the day in London, meeting people from across the Commonwealth and seeing members of the Royal Family at this unique event."
Richard Nihill, School Chaplain

In recent years this event has attracted contributions from Ellie Goulding, Kofi Annan, Sir Richard Branson and Nobel Peace Prize laureates and Malala Yousafzai.

Commonwealth Day has been celebrated across the Commonwealth every year since the 1970's. In recent years, there has been a shift away from celebrating a single day towards celebrating Commonwealth Week, with Commonwealth Day at its centre. The Royal Commonwealth Society encourages schools and youth groups to take up this opportunity to engage with the Commonwealth and raise awareness of this unique network.