Princess Kate and Prince William join stars for King Charles’ Commonwealth service speech

King Charles has remembered his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, in a historic speech while attending his first Commonwealth Day Service as the reigning monarch.

The royals arrive to attend the Commonwealth Day service ceremony, at Westminster Abbey, in London, on March 13, 2023. Picture: AFP.

Princess Kate and Prince William have joined stars including Spice Girl, Geri Horner, for King Charles’ Commonwealth service in London.

Charles marked the occasion with a speech in Westminster Abbey, in what was the first Commonwealth service since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, The Sun reports.

He was spotted greeting a member of the Ngati Ranana London Maori Club before entering Westminster Abbey on Monday.

And the King also stopped to watch an incredible traditional performance by the London Maori Club on the way in.

The royal then issued a rallying cry to the nations in the speech, urging people to “strive together” to achieve a “global common good” in his first Commonwealth Day address.

Charles said: “Commonwealth Day was an occasion of particular pride for my beloved Mother, The late Queen – a treasured opportunity to celebrate our Commonwealth family, to whose service she dedicated her long and remarkable life.

The royals arrive to attend the Commonwealth Day service ceremony, at Westminster Abbey, in London, on March 13, 2023. Picture: AFP.

King Charles III uses the 'Hongi', a traditional Maori greeting of touching noses as he attends the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images.

Geri Horner - AKA “Ginger Spice” - also attended the service. Picture: Getty images.

“In succeeding Her Majesty as Head of the Commonwealth, I draw great strength from her example, together with all that I have learnt from the extraordinary people I have met, throughout the Commonwealth, over so many years.”

And he praised the “shared humanity” across the world, adding: “By listening to each other, we will find so many of the solutions that we seek.”

While Will and Kate joined the crowd after beaming as they walked into the ceremony at Westminster.

The Princess of Wales was spotted wearing a feathers brooch that was a gift from monarch Charles himself.

King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images.

And she also a sported a glittering pair of two-tiered flower-shaped earrings, which were previously owned by Princess Diana.

Camilla dazzled in a blue wool dress and was seen wearing the late Queen’s sapphire chrysanthemum brooch.

The sparkling diamond and sapphire piece set in platinum was worn by Princess Elizabeth for the official photos taken on her honeymoon with the late Duke of Edinburgh at Broadlands in Hampshire in 1947.

Other members of the royal family in attendance were The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

The annual service was the scene of Harry and Meg’s final official public engagement as senior working royals in 2020.

Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan Markle, 41, have been invited to Charles’s coronation on May 6 and while there has been no confirmation it is expected they will attend.

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort depart the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images.

Relations between Harry and Meghan and his family have become increasingly strained since ‘Megxit’ when the couple left Britain for life in California where they have set up home in Montecito.

Harry even described his brother, Prince William, as his “arch-nemesis” in his memoir Spare.

Today is the first time the family have come together to celebrate the Commonwealth since Harry and Meg’s bombshell revelations.

Charles is now head of the Commonwealth, following in the late Queen’s footsteps after she successfully lobbied for him to take on the role.

The star-studded service has also seen appearances from Alexandra Burke, Denise Lewis and Geri Horner.

The Dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoyle, referenced the coronation ceremony as the Commonwealth Day service began.

He said: “We will pray too for our King as we look to the day when we will gather here again in loyalty and affection.

“As people of faith, hope, and compassion, we shall pray for the peoples of Turkey, Syria, and Ukraine, and all for whom the last year has brought great suffering and loss.”

A Commonwealth flag for peace will be carried in the procession of Commonwealth members’ flags to mark 2023 as Commonwealth Year of Peace.

And musical performances will include saxophonist Yolanda Brown, West End stars Roshani Abbey and Nuwan Hugh Perera, and the all-female Amalgamation Choir, from Cyprus.

Guests of honour among the 2,000-strong congregation will include the Commonwealth secretary-general, the prime minister of Samoa, high commissioners, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the UK and the Commonwealth.

Also attending will be athletes from the home nations who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last summer, as well as faith leaders, and more than 750 schoolchildren and young people from throughout the UK.

The service is being broadcast live on BBC One.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

Originally published as Princess Kate and Prince William join stars for King Charles’ Commonwealth service speech