FAQs

Attendance at the Observance is strictly by invitation only. Demand for seats is always high and we try our best to make sure as many people as possible can attend. If you, or your school, would like to be considered for a place at the Commonwealth Day Observance, please send an email to observance@thercs.org .

This year, we will be sending the invitation letters by email in early February. Once you accept the invitation, your invitation card will be sent in early March by post.

All invitations are non-transferable. If you have been invited and cannot attend the Observance, for whatever reason, please email observance@thercs.org .

The Commonwealth Day Observance will take place on 14th March.Doors to the Abbey will open at 1.45pm and all invited guests must be seated by 2.45pm.(Remember that security checks may take up to 10 minutes.) From 2pm to 2.45pm there will be a range of performances as part of the 'Pre-Observance' inside the Abbey. The formal start of the Observance is at 3.15pm.

No, individuals cannot request particular seating. Although not completely full, on Commonwealth Day Westminster Abbey is just short of its maximum capacity of 2,200. When allocating seating, we take the utmost care to ensure that everybody gets the best view possible. Those who may not be able to see the Queen and other special guests directly can usually see them on one of the many plasma screens that are dotted around the Abbey. Once inside the Abbey, you cannot move seats without the permission of one of the ushers.

After the Observance, there will be a Tea Party at the Commonwealth Club, home of the Royal Commonwealth Society (25 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5AP). The Commonwealth Club is a ten minute walk from Westminster Abbey. This is a ticketed event and it is essential to book in advance. Please visit www.thercs.org/events for more information and to book.

For information about covering the Observance itself, please contact the Westminster Abbey Press Office. If you have interview requests, or other press enquiries, please contact RCS Communications Manager, Joanna Bennett at joanna.bennett@thercs.org  or on +44 (0) 20 7766 9230.

All the performances for the 2011 Commonwealth Day Observance are already confirmed. However, if you, or your musical group, would like to perform in future years, please email observance@thercs.org . We are particularly keen to hear from groups based in the UK that perform music from around the Commonwealth with traditional instruments.

You can find resource packs and information about the Commonwealth here: www.thercs.org/youth/materials. You can also download two Commonwealth Day 2011 posters, herehere andhere.