Queen: Respect for each other is the pillar of peace
THE Queen will say that respect and understanding are the cornerstones of peace in her annual message to the Commonwealth.
To mark Commonwealth Day Her Majesty will use her address to promote this year’s theme – “a peace-building Commonwealth”.
The message will form part of today’s service at Westminster Abbey. She will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
The Queen will say in her message printed in the order of service: “The cornerstones on which peace is founded are respect and understanding for one another.
“Working together we build peace by defending the dignity of every individual and community. By upholding justice and the rule of law and by striving for societies that are fair and offer opportunities for all, we overcome division and find reconciliation, so the benefits of progress and prosperity may be multiplied and shared.
“As members of the Commonwealth family, we can find much to be thankful for in the inheritances we have received from those who came before us.
“Through consensus and cooperation, great things have been achieved.”
Guests among the 2,000-strong congregation will include high commissioners, ambassadors, senior politicians from the UK and Commonwealth, faith leaders and 800 school children. During the service, Olympic heptathlon heroine Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill will carry the Queen’s Baton for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, in Australia, escorted by Aussie and UK athletes – including double Olympic gold medal cyclist Victoria Pendleton. The baton is due to set off on its global relay from Buckingham Palace watched by the Queen this morning. Joseph Muscat, the prime minister of Malta and chair-inoffice of the Commonwealth, will give a reflection in the Abbey and there will be performances from Australian pop singer Cody Simpson and Maltese poet and writer Immanuel Mifsud. Today’s events will begin with the Commonwealth Youth Choir debuting a piece of music composed to mark the 65th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne.