Royal Family’s Annual Commonwealth Day Ceremony Has First Major Change

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Things will look a bit different for the royal family’s Commonwealth Day.

On March 9th, King Charles III, Prince William, and other royals will be at Westminster Abbey in London for a special celebration. However, the BBC has announced that, for the first time in 37 years, it will not be broadcasting the event.

The BBC explained that its decision to change how it broadcasts the Commonwealth Day Ceremony, compared to previous years, is due to financial difficulties. However, BBC News will still cover the service on its various platforms, including news bulletins on BBC One and its 24-hour news channel.

Rather than broadcast the annual multi-faith service celebrating the 56 nations of the Commonwealth, the BBC will air a new episode of its reality show, Escape the Country, at its regular time. The BBC has televised this service every year since 1989, with the exception of 2021 when it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commonwealth Day is a special occasion that often brings together leading members of the royal family. This year, King Charles and Prince William are anticipated to be accompanied by their wives, Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton, as is tradition.

This event will be the royal family’s first public appearance together since February 19th, when Prince Andrew was arrested and later released while authorities investigated allegations of misconduct and his connection to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

To get people ready for his annual message, King Charles—who became monarch in 2023 after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II—shared a sneak peek of what he’ll say this year.

A preview of the King’s message, shared by the BBC on March 7, highlighted how challenging times truly demonstrate the strength of the Commonwealth. The message described the Commonwealth as a positive influence built on local communities, dedicated to long-term, beneficial sustainability, and strengthened by its diverse cultures. It also emphasized the Commonwealth’s commitment to protecting the planet and working together to serve its people.

For more on King Charles, William, Kate and more royals making news in 2026, keep reading…

Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on February 19th, his 66th birthday, and is suspected of wrongdoing while holding a public office.

The arrest happened as questions resurfaced about Andrew’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew maintains he has done nothing wrong.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have publicly expressed their sympathy for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein following the release of court documents related to the convicted sex offender.

A spokesperson for The Prince and Princess said they are very worried about the ongoing disclosures and continue to think of those affected, according to a statement released to MS NOW on February 9th.

Marius Borg Høiby, the oldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, was arrested on February 1st for assault, threatening someone with a knife, and breaking a restraining order, according to a statement from Oslo police to The Associated Press.

The 29-year-old man, who isn’t a royal and doesn’t have any official responsibilities, will be held for up to four weeks due to concerns he might commit further crimes. An Oslo court approved the detention, and his lawyer, Petar Sekulic, said they are thinking about filing an appeal.

Høiby is scheduled to appear in court on February 3rd, facing charges related to four alleged rapes that occurred between 2018 and 2024, along with accusations of domestic violence and violating a protection order.

In a statement to the Associated Press, his lawyers said Høiby denies any sexual abuse and most of the accusations involving violence.

Flora Vesterberg, whose grandmother is Princess Alexandra (a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II), has announced she is expecting her first child with her husband, Timothy Vesterberg.

She announced on Instagram on January 19th that she and Timothy are expecting their first child, saying they are ‘over the moon’ with happiness.

Prince Harry began a legal case at London’s High Court on January 19th against Associated Newspapers, the company behind the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, and Mail Online. He alleges the media group used dishonest methods to gather news.

Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sadie Frost are also joining the lawsuit against the publishing company.

Associated Newspapers has “vigorously denied” the claims, according to the BBC.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marked their tenth anniversary as a couple by releasing a sweet, black and white video of them dancing at home.

The couple shared a sweet video set to Olivia Dean’s song “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” and revealed it was filmed by their 4-year-old daughter, Lilibet. Meghan, who also shares 6-year-old son Archie with Harry, gave their daughter credit in the caption of the January 16th Instagram post, simply writing, “cred: our daughter.”

The couple shared a cute photo from early in their relationship, showing them hugging during a trip outdoors.

“When 2026 feels just like 2016….,” Meghan wrote in the caption. “You had to be there.”

On January 15th, the Greek royal family announced the death of Queen Sofia of Spain’s sister, who was 83 years old.

The Greek Royal Family announced with great sadness the passing of Princess Irene, a cherished sister and aunt, on Thursday, January 15th, 2026. She died at 11:40 AM local time at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, surrounded by family and friends.

The funeral for her took place on January 19th at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens, and she was buried at the Royal Cemetery of Tatoi.

On her 44th birthday, the Princess of Wales shared a message on the power of nature to heal.

In a recent video, Kate reflected on winter’s ability to bring peace and self-discovery. She described how the season’s quiet stillness allows us to slow down, look inward, and connect with both our inner selves and the natural world around us, like seeing our reflection in a gently flowing stream.

I’ve been thinking about how thankful I am. It’s like a natural flow within us washes away our fears, leaving us feeling cleansed and at peace. We learn to accept our sadness and truly appreciate being alive, feeling connected to the calming and gentle wisdom of nature, which helps us heal and remember.

Princess Catherine made her first public appearance of 2026, joining Prince William at Charing Cross Hospital in London. The visit was to show support for healthcare workers, and it happened nearly a year after she shared the news that her cancer was in remission.

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2026-03-09 19:20