The Queen's Commonwealth Day Message
To mark Commonwealth Day, the Queen issues a special message as Head of the Commonwealth...
The message is based on the theme for that year which is recommended by the Council of Commonwealth Societies, endorsed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General and approved by the Queen.
A pre-taped broadcast of the message is sent to radio stations throughout the Commonwealth and played during the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey. Printed copies are distributed and are made available to read online.
The 2010 Commonwealth Day message - focusing on Science, Technology and Society - will appear on this site soon. Read the Queen's 2009 message
here
The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth
Upon coming to the throne in 1952 and on the initiative of India, all nations of the Commonwealth accepted Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of the Commonwealth in succession to her father. The position of Head implies no executive or constitutionalpower.
Since 1997, The Queen has attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the biennial Commonwealth Summit. There, she always meets individually with the Commonwealth Heads of Government, although she takes no part in the working sessions of the meeting. The Queen's dedication to the Commonwealth and her steadying influence are widely appreciated. In 2002, the celebrations of her Golden Jubilee drew numerous messages of appreciation from Heads of Government and Commonwealth citizens alike. Some recalled her unifying influence in the Commonwealth at times of crisis, others her unfailing enthusiasm when visiting Commonwealth countries.
In a Jubilee-year article, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said: "I wouldn't like to speculate where the Commonwealth would be without Her Majesty's 50 years of unstinting support and guidance." And the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Anyaoku added: "She has been more than a 'visible symbol' of a free association of nations - she has soothed its tempers, bound its wounds, encouraged its growth and, at certain times and in her own way, steeled its resolve. For her guidance and unwavering commitment, we are deeply in her debt."