For the first time since 1989, the BBC has announced that it
will not air the
Commonwealth Day service live from Westminster Abbey.
Instead, an episode of Escape to the Country will air
in the time slot. The BBC has said that funding challenges led to
the decision. Since 1989, the BBC has only skipped one airing of
the Commonwealth Day service: in 2021, when the event was cancelled
due to the coronavirus pandemic.
use
In a statement
provided to Hello!, a
BBC spokesperson said, “Our decision not to broadcast the
Commonwealth Day Ceremony in the same way we’ve done in previous
years reflects the difficult choices we have to make in light of
our funding challenges. We can confirm BBC News plans to cover the
service across its platforms, including the BBC One bulletins and
rolling news channel.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla
will be joined by The Prince and Princess of Wales, The
Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and The Duke and
Duchess of Gloucester at Monday’s ceremony, which is themed around
collaboration.
According to Buckingham Palace, the Commonwealth Day ceremony
will echo the theme of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meetings in Antigua and Barbuda this November,
‘Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous
Commonwealth.’
The Commonwealth Day service will feature the premiere
performance of the Commonwealth Symphony; a dance by the Royal
Ballet School and Sapnay Entertainments which combines ballet and
Bollywood dance; a Scottish Ceilidh band; and the Melodians Steel
Drum Orchestra. Speakers include Geri Halliwell-Horner, who will
deliver an address, Oti Mabuse, who will deliver a reflection, and
Selina Tusitala Marsh, the Commonwealth Poet Laureate, who will
read a poem.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source royalcentral.co.uk ’
