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  • So the first of the royal arrivals Earl on Dhe Countess off Wessex, the West.

  • It's vice patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation closing speech.

  • 2018.

  • Commonwealth Games opened the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in the 1998 Games in Malaysia and as we were hearing the contests of Wessex very interested in various Commonwealth causes including ending avoidable blindness, recently visited Malawi.

  • The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust Trachoma Initiative is literally just returned actually from a trip to south Sudan over the weekend where she marked International Women's Day.

  • Did you say avoidable blindness?

  • Very much A key part of her work.

  • Yeah, on the next car and you can hear, I think see the people lined up to Greek next Royal Party to arrive.

  • This is His Highness the Duke of Sussex on her own Highness, Duchess of Sussex Huge chairs The Duchess there is wearing Amelia Wixted grass Hat by William Chambers And of course, for them.

  • This is the last time we'll be walking into the happiest this'll way.

  • No, no surprise.

  • We're seeing that the battery of newspaper photographers lights flashing the last time wth the Sussex is will appear in public before standing back his senior members off the royal family, talking there to the dean off the abbey on Dhe.

  • Smiles is there, brought in to meet the receiving line.

  • The dean, the very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, installed as the 39th dean of Westminster in November 2019.

  • They're introduced, first of all to the Venable.

  • David Stanton, sub dean and Cannon treasurer.

  • Evidently Ball cannon, steward on Dhe Al Mina.

  • Ellen, Theologian, the Reverend Dr James Haughey, Baumann, receiver general in Chapter Clark.

  • His Grace, the Duke of the Clue and the prime minister.

  • Boris Johnson.

  • Patricia Scotland, Secretary general of the Commonwealth, Scotland.

  • It's clear the message is going out there to be no handshakes.

  • Richard My Winnie the right Honorable Lord Howell of Guilford, chair of the Council of the Commonwealth Society, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

  • Arriving royal gathered to on a Commonwealth Day.

  • This is almost something from the queen, isn't it?

  • I expect my family to support the Commonwealth as I have throughout my life.

  • Well, indeed, truck, all members of the family a raised on on stories of the Commonwealth.

  • The Queen became queen.

  • March is at the heart of the Commonwealth in Kenya, they've all the very first We see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

  • There, their very first overseas toad together was to a calm wolf country to Canada, and it's just forms part of royal life, and you may go on certain terms to different countries.

  • But in between two around Europe around the UK that always be a calm off tourism, sometimes it's about grand celebrations.

  • Sometimes it might be tied in with trade.

  • Sometimes it's simply about solidarity isn't as we saw in April of last year when the Duke of Cambridge visited New Zealand in the aftermath of the Christ Church mosque shooting very much as we saw in the film earlier, he would straight out there after that, followed on from after the earthquake in Christ Church in 2011.

  • He went out there straight after that as well, where we see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex being led to the suit to the Commonwealth country that he enjoys a particularly close relationship with having founded his charity Sentebale with Princess off a suit to work with Children and young people infected with HIV in both the suit, too.

  • And Botswana?

  • It was one of Prince Harry's first creations of charitable creations.

  • Words centre Barley is, he's saying in the suit.

  • He goes there regularly.

  • It's very close to his heart, still very active.

  • Fundraiser for it.

  • And it's It's yet another example of the way in which a roll family so many levels are connected with the Commonwealth in here of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cambridge.

  • Well visited 45 out of 54 countries off the Commonwealth.

  • And we've already seen a bit of it this afternoon.

  • When you watch those pictures off the prince on duty in the Commonwealth, it does seem to be a sheer a sheer pleasure in the encounters he has like his mother is something he has become.

  • Passionate.

  • Yes, I think he wants.

  • Made a wonderful speech.

  • 2013.

  • He reflected on his life with a couple more leaders.

  • And how was a boy he'd grown up with these Commonwealth leaders coming to stay?

  • How is a student?

  • He'd be water skiing with the Prime minister, Malta and always these stories going back toe thier early years of his life.

  • Look closely and you can see.

  • The Prince of Wales is declining to shake hands this afternoon, but is doing the traditional nemesis day.

  • I wondered if we might see the Prime Minister do a sort of a shoulder shoulder to people.

  • But Princess decided to name ist es people.

  • Delia, handshake there from the Prime Minister is having to hold himself back.

  • Emma, stay very good, Your Highness, to account the fears of Corona virus off course greeting Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary General Howl of Guilford share the Commonwealth Society and Dr Linda you there, whose chief executive off the Royal Commonwealth Society.

  • So we have now the royal family except Her Majesty the Queen whose car we're expecting to arrive any moments soon as she arrives in front of the abbey, her arrival will be serenaded by a fanfare from the state trumpeters at the Household Cavalry Up in the Abbotts pew above the Great West Door, Duchess of Cambridge, making their way through the choir on towards the high altar where their seats are their trip to Pakistan in October this year really a very important commonwealth trip.

  • A great sign of return toe some normality in Pakistan.

  • Yes, Pakistan over the years twice Being suspended from the moth wants actually withdrew all together back in the seventies, but now very much back at the heart of things and that visit by that you can duchess very significant, one very warmly welcomed by them.

  • Now they take their seats with the other members of the So we await the arrival off the Queen Wells over his shoulder to see if he could see her car arriving.

  • The Prince of Wales undertook on autumn tour to India, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.

  • What was his 10th official visit to India to service at the Deli War Memorial, where he met with gardeners from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, who tend to the 70 and the Commonwealth war graze really a very important part of what the Commonwealth do, maintaining these graveyards across the continents.

  • Immaculately.

  • One of the oldest Commonwealth organizations War Graves Commission, five million men and women from the country the Commonwealth saw wartime service during the Second World War.

  • Six million soldiers from across the Commonwealth for what became the Commonwealth mobilized for World War one 1.1 million British commonwealth servicemen killed.

  • Wherever you see, there's come wealth graves.

  • They are immaculate, perfectly mowed lawns, well tended memorials.

  • Gravestones kept immaculately clean shrubs on the graves, reflecting a part of the world where the graveyards are 3 to 7 of the ones where soldiers who fought in the Burma railway are buried.

  • It is always a deeply moving experience wherever you go in the world it is, and it's another reminder of way Today matters.

  • It's the shared bonds, not just of language, law and culture, but also shared sacrifice and the outriders.

  • Here there is the car bearing Her Majesty the Queen.

  • Cheers from the crowds in front of Westminster Abbey.

  • We'll stand by for that fanfare from the state trumpeters of the Household Cavalry to mark arrival here this Commonwealth Day of Celebration.

  • Majesty, Queen Monitor, head of state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but Queen to in 15 Commonwealth rails, Queen of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Bellies Papinou Guineas and Cristoforo ST Kitts and Nevis and Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, Barbados, Grenada, Solomon, Solomon Islands, Lucia on Dhe, the Bahamas Queen off the world.

  • In some ways, Robert, he certainly feels like that under day.

  • Like today, Petro the queen is wearing a Stuart Parvin coat, has described his air force blue cashmere coats with black and burnt orange.

  • This'll is an event that she knows better than anyone.

  • She's never missed one.

  • She's attended more of these than anybody else.

  • Prime Minister, bowing there on Dean taking down the 90 knows most of these people already.

  • She'll know hymns.

  • She'll know the running order.

  • She's just saying Hello those, Lord, How Guilford, chairman and president of the role, calm Royal Society.

  • For her, this is a meeting.

  • She's often described the cover Malta's her family of nations and as she turns to see Prince Boils, she's with her family.

  • She stands now by the memorial to Winston Chechen.

  • As we prepare for the start of this Commonwealth Day service, Jacob's arrangement of the national anthem for team from the Band of the Grenadier Guards, the choristers of Westminster Abbey process forward to be followed by the Royal Party.

  • The opening him praise to the Lord, the almighty king of Creation.

  • On behalf of the Dean and chapter, I welcome you warmly to Westminster Abbey for our annual celebration off the Commonwealth.

  • We gather in this house of prayer to celebrate our common life as God's people and to celebrate as a commonwealth of nations.

  • Today we look for the words to express Ah hope we can share the common future in which we all might flourish.

  • So we pray for God's guidance.

  • We seek the GIF ts often imagination that can hope abundantly under courage to seize that hope.

  • Confident in the richness and range of our commonwealth, we are one people with one hope under God.

  • Let us pray in the words our savior gave this.

  • Ah, Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name.

  • My kingdom Come, I will be done on earth as it is in Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil For line is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever.

  • I'm in.

  • We go to the Great West door for gun n drummers One drum performing music from Rwanda In tour the next two scientists corner in front of the memorial to Sir Isaac Newton.

  • Alexandra Burke sings ain't no mountain high enough This mountain way, way, way, way, Matter how?

  • Don't worry, baby.

  • Just call my name.

  • You don't have to worry, baby.

  • No, wait, wait, wait.

  • I remember the day I told you You can always count on that way.

  • No, I get it.

  • No, no.

  • No one can stop me.

  • If you ever trouble, I'll be there on the double Just even when we're apart.

  • No matter how way If you ever knew No Ban, Hand me there on the double Fast, baby Their way Wait!

  • Extra reflection from British world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.

  • My name is Anthony Oluwafemi Luschini.

  • Joshua, Like many of you here, I'm a child of the commonwealth.

  • I was born in what foot?

  • My heritage is Nigerian.

  • I come from the Europe of people who are the largest and some might say the loudest ethnic group in all of Africa.

  • Food.

  • I'm probably Nigerian and I'm probably British.

  • And I joined a long line perhaps too long to count of UK citizens of Commonwealth origin.

  • We've made enormous contributions to this great multicultural society of ours.

  • In my world, that would include names such as Joshua Bootsy Lawrence a Coley on Rambla Ali.

  • But there are so many more members of the Commonwealth family, including David Adjaye, one of you case greatest architects, the image for Don's, arguably Britain's brainiest family and, of course, the countless nurses, teachers and doctors that made the UK their home strengthen in the very fabric of our society and our economy.

  • We must never figure either our commonwealth cousins who stood shoulder to shoulder in battle, not to mention the amazing impact that all of these people hailing from the firm IHS reaches of the globe have had in our culture, sense of national identity.

  • My own eyes were open to this amazing family for the first time when I traveled to Nigeria as a child, whilst I saw some similarities between our two countries.

  • Given our shared heritage is nations, there was a wealth of difference in the world of exciting possibilities.

  • That realization has stayed with me my life.

  • Like me, so many Children of the Commonwealth have two homes, two identities, two cultures and two ways of you in the world.

  • Some even have more than two These days.

  • We hear so much about division on different that some might be tempted to see that as a bathroom well in the country.

  • It's a beautiful thing, a thing to be celebrated and cherish on a great source of peace and stability.

  • In this world of extreme collectivity, who better to connect us and shape our common future than a Children off the commonwealth?

  • Whoever foot in two camps and desperately want to see both sides succeed?

  • There are times when it's important to talk about values, our personal values and those that bind us together.

  • It's a slut as a society, and this is one of those times fairness, determination, tolerance, respect, understanding.

  • I like many of those values in the ring.

  • I applied them to my everyday life, our values, the fineness and how we conduct ourselves.

  • They're what put there, what we put out in the universe on DDE, what we shall receive in return.

  • Respect for the dignity of our commonwealth cousins for all human beings is critical to bring in our society and communities together and making them prosperous.

  • I feel opportunity should be there for the taking, along with hard work, dedication and perseverance.

  • Regardless of one's background, we need to strive harder collectively in order to create unity, it takes a village to raise a child and in the same vein, it takes a whole community to act, to stand together, to talk with some of the challenges we are confronted with.

  • Today.

  • With unity on a shared vision, we could help to improve the lives and prospects of our Commonwealth family a mutually benefit in the process.

  • People like myself as well as some of the other Stellan names I've already mentioned will be perfectly placed to assist with the re engagement with the Commonwealth and actors ambassadors.

  • For the two cultures and countries we represent, it will enable enormous potential off the Commonwealth 1.4 billion young people to transform our world for the better.

  • In the same way, boxing gave me the opportunity and framework to become Olympic champion.

  • Home, a world champion and now into heavyweight champion of the world, bye asked myself.

  • What does the commonwealth really mean?

  • The second part of that word is key for me.

  • A united common future could create opportunities for our commonwealth cousins, whoever they're growing up in Nigeria, Australia, Bangladesh or Jamaica or right here in Britain.

  • So he has to fish and chips and a juicy suit on pounding jam to the UK and Nigeria and, said, the Children of the Commonwealth, thank you very much for listening now.

  • James O'Donnell, organist Master Carstens directs Britain Anthem Be Joyful in the Lord away.

  • The prime minister wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked.

  • Jesus and who is my neighbor?

  • Jesus replied.

  • A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of Robert's.

  • We stripped him, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead by chance of Priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

  • So likewise a Levite when he came to the place and saw him passed by on the other side.

  • But it's a marriage.

  • While traveling came near him, and when he saw him he was moved with pity.

  • He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine.

  • Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

  • The next day, he took out two denarii, gave him to the innkeeper and said, Take care of him and When I come back, I will repay you for evermore you spent.

  • Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers, he said.

  • The one who showed him must see Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise.

  • Boris Johnson reading The Terrible of the Good Samaritan Next Great Swell Ship tune.

  • Centennial.

  • Immortal Invisible God Only wise Next, The Bird on YouTube stars.

  • Suli breaks.

  • Hello, my name is Sullie Breaks, and I just wanted to say it's a pleasure to be in the president's Hello, my name is Sullie breaks.

  • It's a bit early.

  • I just want to say it's a pleasure to be in the presence of so many esteemed individuals who were united, irrespective of culture, race or background by a common theme and a common idea.

  • And I think that idea correct me if I'm wrong, is that we can all collectively make the world a better place, and I think really, that's all.

  • It takes ideas and creativity because those are what send football's spinning into the back of nets.

  • They send men to the moon and women as well, and they leave the world at our fingertips.

  • So I just wanted to share a short piece short so you can get into the more exciting forms of entertainment about the power of ideas.

  • Chapter one.

  • It starts with an idea.

  • A boy will go in a bedroom with nothing but a pen and a laptop.

  • Chapter two.

  • That pen has scribbled across that page numerous times, and that laptop has spent hours illuminated in front of tired eyes and kinds of energy drink, and the idea has become a passion slash obsession.

  • Chapter free.

  • The idea turn passion slash obsession has found its way into the in box of like minded individuals.

  • Friends and family signed off with the words.

  • Honestly, tell me what you think defended this will bang Chapter five.

  • The idea turned passion turned confirmation from friends and family.

  • That is indeed a good idea, and it will actually bang has become a project.

  • Let's get to Chapter five.

  • That project has become viable.

  • That project has become a reality.

  • That project that idea has become the potential to change the world because, as logical people, we sometimes become stuck in our ways.

  • Reluctant to change function, the same when there's nothing to gain.

  • Forget in that All skyscrapers were once the slabs of stone.

  • Google was once just a scrap of codes.

  • But in this story, there's no guarantee that would have happily ever after or ride off into the sunset.

  • We don't even know if be able to afford next month's rent.

  • Bless Vic back to Chapter one.

  • The idea could have seen the light bulb.

  • That boy could be Nikolai Tesla.

  • The idea could have bean freedom that Gil could have.

  • Bean.

  • Nina Simone Because all that ever takes is an idea and love effort.

  • Whether it happens in a meat and boardroom or campus dorm room, it's only ever taken one idea to make a difference.

  • It's only ever taken one idea to change the world, Thank you very much.

  • Next the faith leaders.

  • First, we're going to hear from Archbishop Nikita's, representing the Greek Orthodox Church.

  • Direct our steps to fulfill your commandments, transform our hearts so that we may experience the peace, love and unity that only comes from you.

  • Break the barriers of hatred and injustice which shatter our society, grant us faith and love as we sojourn toward a better future together.

  • Next Shake Ibrahim Murderer representing the Muslim community Smell like rock man Iraqi Oh, Lord, you a piece and from you is peace.

  • You created us from a single pair and made us into different people so that we may know one another.

  • God enable us to respect this diversity.

  • Joined together Our hearts free us from hunger, disease, hate and prejudice for your grace and your mercy.

  • Answer our prayers.

  • Mommy.

  • Next, the venerable burger silhouette Miller representing the Buddhist community.

  • Maybe Warren styled words or coming on awesome state of mind.

  • It has already Edison me Ward is tired towards preventing.

  • I don't know some state of mine which has not it.

  • Garrison, maybe all style it words producing a peaceful state off mine between how not it experience maybe your style towards continuing the piece off mine between how already experience.

  • Okay.

  • On the final prayer from Rabbi Danny Rich representing Dribble Judaism long ago, the rabbis wrote a single human family was made it creation for the sake of peace.

  • So we cannot say one to another.

  • My ancestor was greater than your ancestor.

  • The Commonwealth reflects this in its celebration of a single diverse family under the sovereignty of God.

  • Let us pray that our creator might imbue us with the ability to see each other through God's eyes as equals.

  • And now James O'Donnell conducts the Westminster Abbey Choir.

  • In the anthem.

  • Angel Voices Ever Singing Music by Bob Joe Cops Words by Francis Pot.

  • It's good now.

  • The Kaz Marty Pavement was laid in 12 68 on the orders of Henry the third.

  • It is one of the crowning jewels of Westminster Abbey.

  • On this afternoon it becomes a stage for Craig David, who's going to sing.

  • Unbelievable.

  • I always said I would know.

  • I always thought I'd be strong enough somehow.

  • Give Thank you, King.

  • And you changed my whole world Now I'm somewhere I never thought I'd be uh means it's sun believable And I don't Sun is so beautiful flowing I feel like you always forever part may And it's so unbelievable Oh, to finally be in a somewhere right I thought I'd be in my head And my heart It's so kid now Oh, my hand You're gonna into thin Now I lost you Rescue me somehow I love you Complete me from somewhere, right?

  • B means believing and I don't know some.

  • It's so beautiful, flowing forever part of May and it's unbelievable.

  • Toe bto.

  • Somewhere out of a B, when I think a on a chance and I can help break the O in Crime Wave and I don't something so beautiful flow in telling forever part.

  • And it's so unbelievable.

  • Finally, uh, through the Great West door of the Abbey next, where we find the Malaysian Steel Orchestra with especially created Commonwealth melody.

  • Next Baroness Scotland Secretary general, off comedy with Great Let us now stand to pledge ourselves afresh to uphold and serve the values and fellowship of the common worlds.

  • We affirm that every person possesses unique worth and dignity.

  • We have firm our respect for nature and that we will be stewards of the Earth by caring for every part of it and for it as a whole.

  • We affirm our belief in justice for everyone and peace among peoples and nations joining together in kinship and affinity in diversity and unity.

  • As members of a worldwide family of nations, we build on shared inheritances.

  • We cooperate with mutual respect and goodwill to deliver a common future for the good of all through Commonwealth Connection.

  • We learn from one another and innovate to transform our communities, our nation's and our world.

  • We affirm our belief in the Commonwealth as a powerful influence for good and pledge ourselves to its service.

  • Now on for the future final him in this Commonwealth Day service Charles Wesley is great love, divine all loves accepting Yeah, God grants to the living grace to the departed Rest to the church The Queen, the Commonwealth on all people piece on Concord on dhe to our sinners life everlasting and the blessing of God Almighty The father, the son on the Holy Spirit be among you on remain with you always the new dean of Westminster, the very Reverend Dr David Hoyle giving the blessing which marks the end of today's service of celebration for the Commonwealth.

  • Deen appointed 39th dean of Westminster in November last year.

  • Prior to that, he was dean of Bristol today, overseeing his first major state event one of a regular calendar of great events that take place here at Westminster Abbey.

  • A royal peculiar under the direct control off the Queen Deane, responsible to the sovereign clergy progress out towards the West Door.

  • 30 boys in the choir, all of whom attend the abbey's dedicated residential choir school.

  • 12 professional adults singers.

  • Their main focus to sing daily Coral service is in the Abbey, a tradition which stretches back more than 600 years.

  • James O'Donnell, organist and master of the choristers, Listening now to sub organist Peter Holder, the Commonwealth Mace, Darien, Noreen from Trinidad and Tobago holding the mace.

  • Here's the carrot chair of the youth led International Task Force for the Commonwealth Youth Form to be held in Rwanda on in front of him the Commonwealth flag Well election.

  • Edgy from Nigeria.

  • Carrying that Commonwealth flag.

  • It's Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Cambridge, the Dukan, Duchess of Sussex.

  • As we've heard this afternoon this the last time they will appear in public before stepping back.

  • A senior members of the royal family, the Countess of Wessex, spring in the back of the Royal party.

  • The clergy there, Mase.

  • It's a gift, a royal anniversary trust to the queen in her role as head of the Commonwealth 40th anniversary of her accession to frame.

  • It's made of gold silver covered in metal studs with the flags of each country off with 53 countries, I think represented on the mace now 54 Commonwealth members after the reintroduction of the Maldives too.

  • Just eight months ago, Robert Hartman has bean with me this afternoon here in Westminster Abbey.

  • So many things to reflect on from watching this service.

  • First of all, as we look at the all the main players in the royal family led by Her Majesty the Queen and all of them playing some role in the commonwealth of all that you say Petro all have a long life long connection with this organization, but none more.

  • So then the queen herself, she goes thio thank the clergy for the role in a service that has we discussed earlier.

  • She very much help to create herself Christopher Stilts, minor canon and present a leaving Westminster Abbey.

  • But he's been very much involved on a day to day basis in organizing this service River Mark Birch, minor canon, and say Crist and the Reverend Jennifer Peterson, Cannon chaplain here at Westminster Abbey on the day in the new dean is going to have to get used to major events like this here in this Abbey Church.

  • This royal peculiar.

  • This national church Yes, a cz Dean, You ready?

  • Do find yourself a TTE the heart of the national story.

  • Can President of the Royal Society this'd somewhere?

  • That thing is quite aside from from coronations, the monarch it so often here for service is and national Thanksgiving.

  • We've got V E Day coming up in May, the Queen City marking that here way.

  • See coming up behind all the other member of the royal family, the Prince of Wales there number stay as he says, kind of avoiding a handshake.

  • He's of course, next week he'll be off to the Commonwealth himself.

  • He's paying a visit.

  • Cyprus.

  • Last year he visited 20 Commonwealth countries in one year alone would be more of the same this year, just behind him.

  • The Duchess of Cornwall, of course, who presides over the Commonwealth Essay Prize, the oldest writing competition in the world.

  • So all these threats coming together in front of our eyes we just saw there the queen greeting Alexander Burke, who entertained us, sir afternoon Craig David and tearing the end off the line championship.

  • Boxer Anthony Joshua, who I think spoke so interestingly about the Commonwealth and about his role is someone who has a foot in two camps but British on Nigerian and how that is an experience for so many people within this Commonwealth of Nations.

  • I thought it was a wonderful speech, he said earlier.

  • He was a bit nervous about it, but I think he just captured the essence of the column.

  • Are they talked with two ways of seen life?

  • I think that's so important.

  • Queen clearly delighted to meet him, she comes out through the Great West door onto the steps outside the abbey.

  • Thousands of people watching You can't see them.

  • They're behind barriers on the other side of the road.

  • But many people turning out to support this event is she's presented by poses.

  • We hear the bells of Westminster Abbey ring and I think a second Robert, just to reflect on how important the Commonwealth has bean to the queen.

  • Throughout her reign, there have been plenty of an occasion when she's sided with the Commonwealth over the advice of her own British government minister.

  • It exactly chief, she's that she's nursed.

  • It really threw its infancy when she came to the throne.

  • There just eight members of the Commonwealth today 54.

  • And there have been many bumps on the road and the happy moments where the organization has found itself at all, sometimes with splitting in half, sometimes just trying to find its feet.

  • And the queen's always being there.

  • In the early days of a more brah house being the seat of the secretary general, it was the queen you handed over one of the family homes to this organization.

  • It remains at the heart of royal life on There is no doubt the Commonwealth benefits enormously from the stardust that Her Majesty the queen and other members of the royal family Sprinkle upon it.

  • It might not even exist if it wasn't for this direct royal support, it has been said in in recent years.

  • As the hallmark has receded, it was way have to accept.

  • It's not power.

  • It once wards, but it is having a member of the royal family like that Cambridge Air and Duchess.

  • It's having that royal Stardust, as you say, patrol that just gives it that little bit.

  • It's a unique organization, and in a world of so many organise multinational organizations, whether it's the G seven on the you or APEC OPEC or whatever you want.

  • The Cold War has does have something unique about it.

  • We get a flare route today.

  • It operates in a unique space and it does have the heart of it.

  • The queen of the head of the Commonwealth who has known all its leaders, hundreds of leaders now over nearly 70 years as head Prince Charles behind the queen, who will take over as head of the Commonwealth and clearly shares many of the views and concerns that Commonwealth countries face every day.

  • Many issues, particularly around the environment, are very dear to him.

  • Under a matter of life and death for some Commonwealth nations they are on.

  • Over the years of the Commonwealth has found itself at loggerheads over lots of issues.

  • It can argue over the tiniest things, but it was absolutely unanimous in 2018 that the Prince of Wales would be the next head of the common mother's not automatic.

  • It's not a hereditary title, but they wanted him and they know all these nations.

  • No, how clear are closed.

  • The bar minister, his heart queen, gets into her car to return to Buckingham Palace.

  • Other members of the royal family will go to a reception to celebrate the work off the Commonwealth as the Duke of Cambridge.

  • In conversation with Anthony Joshua, you could see during intelligent Joshua's speech a reflection of what he was saying amongst the younger members of the royal family on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

  • Now are we ever going to see them again in a situation quite like this?

  • Robert, We've talked a lot this afternoon about how this is their last public engagement before they they step down, step back, senior members of the royal family, how we get to see them next.

  • Well, it's certainly the longest time for a considerable time.

  • I expect we'll see them at this sort of event where the protocol is is running everything there.

  • We see that the queen has to leave first and the Prince of Wales.

  • These verses a pecking order for everything literally fall into line.

  • That's the world they're moving away from.

  • They're not leaving the royal family, then, certainly not leaving the common welfare Prince Harry.

  • He's going to be talking to lots of the people here in the abbey today, just in a different guys in future, and it's not going to be as His Royal Highness is not going to be in the state occasions fist pumping their Craig David get.

  • Certainly, it's one step step beyond the official guidance.

  • But then, that's That's Prince Harry.

  • Andi.

  • It is, of course, a sad moment.

  • I think there were moments during that service where you could see he was looking pensive looking students.

  • This is a ll.

  • He's known This is a world that he's been raised on, and it's going to be a shift when, at the end of the month they move into this different phase of their life.

  • Today must have been in some ways, an anxious day, A CZ we said right at the beginning, the first time that the whole roll family have bean together since the announcement about princes.

  • Change of situation was made to be there with with your siblings, with your father, with your grandmother must have bean fighter.

  • A tricky thing.

  • Well, it's the first time in public, but of course, in private, they have been talking to each other, and I think it underlines the fact that moves at two levels.

  • You've got the personal on the institutional on here on show.

  • We've got them as a working family in public.

  • But you know that family bonds are still do conduction of chemicals.

  • They have to leave ahead of the due conduction of Sussex.

  • That's just the way it goes.

  • It's It's a pecking order on.

  • That's one thing that that won't change.

  • Prince Harry remains six of nine to the throne, but this sort of protocol waiting while one cargoes having to wait for the next one, that's going to be a way of life.

  • That's that's simply gonna move on for them now.

  • But he will be back next month.

  • Uh, hopefully, depending on travel plans, but hopefully at the moment of Sussex.

  • There he's due back in London to start of the London Marathon.

  • We'll just see them carrying on it a charitable level, but not at this sort of formal level.

  • We talked about 54 members of the Commonwealth.

  • Now is that it, or do you think it's gonna grow further?

  • Well, there's always There's always a Q, and they're the Duke of Sussex himself.

  • When he was in South Africa in southern Africa on his tour last.

  • At the end of last year, he dropped in on Angolan.

  • Behind the scenes there, the word discussions and Golan never part of the British Empire.

  • Never, never country that doesn't speak English.

  • But there again, another country that's seen what the Commonwealth could do for that part of the world.

  • They're in the queue to join on.

  • Prince Harry will have played his part and Boris Johnson, the prime minister with Carrie Simmons, his Julian and field say.

  • And he is someone who is clearly going toe to work towards building a great relationship between London and the Commonwealth has always been the case with recent prime minister.

  • No, it's certainly John Major was very, very pro commonwealth, having lived in the Martha congratulating Anthony Joshua and speech, but in the Tony Blair years was a drop off.

  • No question.

  • The Foreign Office moved its focus completely.

  • I think sometimes forgot what CNF CEOs stood for, but it's gone back to being foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  • I think that one of the things that struck me most of all about today has Bean the sheer number of young people involved.

  • Most of the performers are pretty young, but watching the Children, schoolchildren, scouts, girl guides, etcetera, taking part in this Commonwealth Service.

  • As Anthony Joshua said in his speech, If you can enable the untapped an enormous potential of the Commonwealth, one point four billion young people, you can transform our world for the better.

  • That sums it up.

  • Doesn't it?

  • Does?

  • And a CZ Do conductors leave they in many ways, the organization they represent, the queen's couple months trust.

  • They still president, vice president of that, that that's all about young people, as is indeed the Commonwealth Games, the next big Commonwealth event coming to Britain, and I suspect we'll see both of them turning up for it in 2022 in Birmingham is the next Commonwealth Games on the Commonwealth Games come around the Olympics.

  • They run two years between each Olympic Games.

  • Of course, they're not as big, but they're massively significant to sit.

  • I remember going to the Commonwealth Games when they were in Manchester.

  • Amazing major event, as will be in Birmingham in two years, Indeed, and rather like the Invictus games that the Duke of Sussex will be attending in in the hay in May, they are not like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, often called the friendly games.

  • Because there is just that added dimension off these shared links on Now this.

  • I think this is a moving and very significant moment.

  • I think this is a moment you'll see in a lot of front pages tomorrow as the couple as they.

  • They're not saying farewell to these young people on the steps of the Great West Door, but this is certainly a reward, if not a year.

  • I think it's a reward to a way of life.

  • That part, certainly for the foreseeable future, but not on Arab are entirely to the commonwealth.

  • Just this morning, Duchess of Sussex was meeting with the Commonwealth Universities Yes Association, of which she is very involved, which brings together hundreds of universities across the Commonwealth on helps the work together help some exchange learning information and stuff exactly more than 500.

  • Universe is the oldest university network in the world.

  • Get back to 1913 and the duchess remains very much an active patron of that in the same way that view himself is involved with so many other Commonwealth charities.

  • And that's gonna change.

  • This is the moment isn't it?

  • They're out of the abbey out of the fence that surrounds the abbey, saying goodbye to those who have run.

  • Today's service is they prepare to get into the car that will whisk them away from the abbey, whisk him away from this great public event this afternoon and risk him away from public life for a least from formal royal from formal royal public life.

  • They are.

  • Next time we see them, it will be more a case of corny.

  • Harry still retain the H R H, but they won't be using it.

  • They are effectively heading off to it's slightly uncharted waters, territory that members the royal family haven't bean to before.

  • The queen wants to make it as give it, give it the best possible chance.

  • But there is a 12 month review just so that we can see how it pans out.

  • Meanwhile, this is the traditional face of reality encounters of 16 Royals have done over the centuries and will continue to do with very passionate and specialists interests.

  • Countess of Wessex, particularly just we're hearing in issues around site across the commonwealth.

  • Robert Harmon.

  • Thank you very much for joining us here.

  • at Westminster Abbey this afternoon.

  • The end of this great celebration painting such a vivid picture of the commonwealth.

  • And it's 54 members, 2.4 billion people, countries, large and small, rich and poor countries working together too.

  • Address issues relating to health, politics and the environment.

  • All of them responding to the head of the Commonwealth.

  • Her Majesty, the Queen, whose service this has bean this afternoon from all of us here at Westminster Abbey.

  • Very good afternoon.

So the first of the royal arrivals Earl on Dhe Countess off Wessex, the West.

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