Kate MiddletonandPrince Williamhave returned to Westminster Abbey for an annual celebration.
The royal couple joinedPrince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall andQueen Elizabeth’s cousin Princess Alexandra at the Commonwealth Day Service on Monday. The service honoring the 54 countries and nations that make up the Commonwealth was held for the first time since beingcanceled in 2021due to the coronavirus pandemic and replaced with a smaller event.
For Kate, 40, andPrince William, 39, it also means a return to the placewhere they exchanged vows during their April 2011 royal wedding. In December, Westminster Abbey alsohosted Kate’s first Christmas carol concert, where she evenplayed piano for a performance.
Kate Middleton and Prince William arrive at the Commonwealth Day Service on March 14, 2022.Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images
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Queen Elizabeth, 95, wasunable to attend this year’s ceremony. Although she recently recovered from COVID-19, PEOPLE understands that the Queen’s absence from the Commonwealth Day Service is not related to illness. There were discussions surrounding the monarch’s comfort when it came to her travel arrangements and attending the service.
Kate Middleton.DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images
The Queen has missed the Commonwealth Service before. In 2013, she was forced to cancel her appearance due to an illness.
ThroughoutQueen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign, the Commonwealth has grown from just seven nations to 54 members. During this time, the Queen has undertaken more than 200 visits to Commonwealth countries and visited every country of the Commonwealth (with the exception of Cameroon, which joined in 1995, and Rwanda, which joined in 2009).
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Kate andPrince Williammarked the occasion on social media ahead of the service.
“2.5 billion citizens. 54 member countries. Wishing a very happy#CommonwealthDayto you all,” they wrote, adding the flags of each nation.
source: people.com
