CELEBRITIES FROM the worlds of sport and entertainment will help lead celebrations to mark Commonwealth Day. 

X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, multi-platinum selling, award winning singer-songwriter, Craig David, are set to perform at a special multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the event which takes place on Monday (March 9).

World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will also speak at the service.

Celebrations and events will also be held around the world among the Commonwealth’s 2.4 billion citizens and will include flag parades, church services, poetry mornings and dance performances.

This year’s event is centred around the theme ‘Delivering a Common Future’, highlighting how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve some of its biggest goals – such as protecting natural resources and boosting trade.

Special message

In a special message to mark the occasion Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, said that “advances in technology and modern media have now enabled many more people to witness and enjoy – with remarkable immediacy – the experience of Commonwealth connection, in areas such as education, medicine and conservation.”

She added: “On this Commonwealth Day I hope that the people and countries of the Commonwealth will be inspiredby all that we share, and move forward with fresh resolve to enhance the Commonwealth’s influence for good in our world.”

At Monday’s service The Queen will be joined by Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland.

Speaking about this year’s celebrations Baroness Scotland said: “Our great strength as a family of nations, and of peoples growing together organically, is our ability to evolve and adjust to changing circumstances – whether in the field of human rights, democracy or trade.”

She added: “An impressive example of how our member countries come together to pool knowledge and resources 

which deliver transformational change through innovation is the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

“It provides a dynamic framework within which our member countries commit to working together on ocean health and to use marine resources in sustainable ways.”