Prince Charles attends Commonwealth Day Service amid Queen Elizabeth skipping the event

Newswire

London: At the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey this week, Prince Charles is filling in for his mother, Queen Elizabeth.

The Queen, who is 95 years old, revealed that she will not be attending the annual Commonwealth Day celebration, which honours the 54 nations that make up the Commonwealth.

“After discussing the arrangements with the Royal Household, The Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

“The Queen will continue with other planned engagements, including in-person audiences, in the week ahead,” the statement continued.

Charles came with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, his wife. In addition, Prince William and Kate Middleton were also present at the ceremony.

Monday’s event was the first time an in-person service has been possible since the coronavirus outbreak began.

Queen Elizabeth’s Commonwealth Day speech was read out as the service began. She committed in the message, which she sent from Windsor Castle, to keep the commitment she made 75 years ago that she would be “devoted” to her public duties for the rest of her life.

“In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, it has given me pleasure to renew the promise I made in 1947, that my life will always be devoted in service,” she stated in her message.