King Charles will commend the importance of international alliances in his Commonwealth Day speech tomorrow as the world faces ‘testing moments’.
The annual celebrations of the Commonwealth, marked by a service at Westminster Abbey, will see the largest gathering of members of the Royal Family since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The King will say it is when countries face ‘testing moments’, like ‘conflict, climate change and rapid transformation’, that the member-nations ‘enduring spirits’ come to the fore.
Addressing the congregation of 1,800, made up with politicians and diplomats, he will say: ‘We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility.
‘Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation.
‘Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed.’
This comes as conflicts continue to afflict the world from Ukraine to Sudan and more recently from the war waged by America and Israel in Iran.
Since February 28, the conflict has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries.
The Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025
It has also taken the lives of six US soldiers.
Directing his annual message to the 56 member-nations, Charles will continue: ‘Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good – grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people.’
The speech will also address climate change, with scientists dubbing 2025 the third warmest year on record, and it will raise concerns surrounding the growing presence of AI.
The King’s stance on climate change contradicts the approach taken by US President Donald Trump, who reversed a ruling that held up federal attempts to curb greenhouse gases.
This follows reports that Charles and Camilla will visit the US next month for a three-day visit to coincide with America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
However the visit has faced recent criticism from senior government officials as tensions between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer continue over the Iranian conflict.
Charles and Camilla will be joined at tomorrow’s event by Prince William, Kate, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, who is an ambassador for the Royal Commonwealth Society that hosts the event, will also speak to the congregation, which includes Commonwealth high commissioners and members of the creative community.
King Charles visited the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Baker Barracks, Thorney Island, last month
King Charles and US President Donald Trump reviewed the guard of honour during Mr Trump’s ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle in September last year
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Oti Mabuse will also speak, while a poem will be read by the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate, Selina Tusitala Marsh.
The multi-faith service, which has been held since 1972, will showcase the diversity of the Commonwealth through a mixture of music, dance and readings – in line with the meeting’s theme of accelerating partnerships and investment for a prosperous Commonwealth.
This will include the world premiere of the Commonwealth Symphony, composed by Rekesh Chauhan, and performances by the Royal Ballet School and the Scottish ceilidh band, the Melodians Steel Orchestra.
The BBC will not broadcast the live television coverage of the service at 3pm tomorrow for the first time in 37 years due to ‘funding challenges’ – a move branded ‘ridiculous and appalling’.
The Commonwealth event, hosted by its head, is to be held before the biennial meeting this year during the first week of November in the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, St John’s.
The matter of whether Mountbatten-Windsor should keep his position in the line of succession sits among the future challenges the Commonwealth leaders face, following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office last month – which comes amid the release of the Epstein files.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney called for his removal, a call that was echoed by Australia and New Zealand.
Mountbatten-Windsor is currently eighth in line to the throne, with his removal requiring legislation in the UK and the approval of the 14 Commonwealth realms.
He has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
