Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie join first Commonwealth Day service for King Charles

King Charles III led senior royals including Prince William and Princess Catherine in his first Commonwealth Day service as king, and urged ‘shared values’ and ‘joint action’.

King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales. Picture: AFP

King Charles III on Monday, local time, led his first Commonwealth Day service as king, issuing a call for unity to tackle the globe’s urgent issues.

The 74-year-old monarch is head of the 56-nation Commonwealth, which accounts for 2.6 billion people or one third of the world’s population.

He led senior royals including Prince William and Kate Middleton and representatives from member states as far flung as Samoa at the annual celebration of the institution at Westminster Abbey in London.

The Commonwealth, which includes tiny Pacific island nations and major global economies such as Australia and Canada, was a “force for good”, Charles said.

The king was photographed touching noses with a member of the Ngati Ranana London Maori Club.

King Charles III delivers his Commonwealth Day message during the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images

“Whether on climate change and biodiversity loss, youth opportunity and education, global health, or economic co-operation, the Commonwealth can play an indispensable role in the most pressing issues of our time,” he added from the pulpit.

“Ours is an association not just of shared values but of common purpose and joint action.” Charles took over as head of the Commonwealth, many of whose members are former British colonies, after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last September.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were joined by the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla attended their first Commonwealth Day service of their reign.

The historic occasion comes as the King conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh on Prince Edward on his 59th birthday on Friday, and Edward and Sophie also made their public debut with their new titles, as they thanked the Scottish people for their generosity to Ukrainian refugees.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh as they depart the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images

It was previously reported that Sophie felt “relief” at gaining the royal promotion, meaning she would not have to kneel before Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex again.

Duchess Sophie looked elegant in a cream skirt suit and pillbox hat as she and Edward, wearing a double-breasted pinstripe suit, attended the Westminster Abbey service.

Camilla, Queen Consort, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images

Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images

Princess Catherine looked elegant in a navy and white floral printed two-piece skirt suit accessorised with a wide-brim navy hat and her diamond and sapphire earrings.

The service honors Charles as the official head of the Commonwealth, following in the late Queen’s who maintained the role for half a century.

A Commonwealth flag for peace was carried in the procession of Commonwealth members to mark 2023 as Commonwealth Year of Peace.

Princess Anne, Princess Royal leaves Westminster Abbey at the end of the Commonwealth Day service ceremony. Picture: AFP

Britain's King Charles III (R) and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort reacts as they meet with choristers following the Commonwealth Day service ceremony. Picture: AFP

Guests of honour included the Commonwealth secretary-general and senior politicians and dignitaries from across the UK and the Commonwealth, as well as members of the London based Ngati Ranana London Maori Club.

Members of the Ngati Ranana London Maori Club perform outside Westminster Abbey, in London. Picture: AFP

Athletes who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham also attended. Among the 2,000 people in the congregation were religious leaders and schoolchildren and young people from across the UK.

Geri Horner, of Spice Girls fame, also attended.

Afterwards, Charles, Camilla and the senior members of the royal family entertained invited guests and dignitaries at a Buckingham Palace reception.

- With AFP

Originally published as Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie join first Commonwealth Day service for King Charles