King Charles to warn of ‘uncertain times’ in personal message after Zelensky meeting

King Charles is set to deliver a message recognising “uncertain times” across the world as he marks Commonwealth Day on Monday with a special celebration at Westminster Abbey with Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales

The King will deliver a message of hope and unity saying the Commonwealth exists as a “source of strength and an opportunity for learning”.

On Commonwealth Day on Monday, communities from across the 56 nations will come together to celebrate the unique family of nations. The monarch will lead the Royal Family at a special celebration at Westminster Abbey in London, supported by the Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales. The King and Kate missed last year’s ceremony after both being diagnosed with cancer just weeks before.

This year, Charles will deliver a message recognising “uncertain times” across the world, with wars raging in the Middle East and in Europe. The King last week met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at his Sandringham estate in Norfolk after the wartime leader suffered a bruising encounter with US president Donald Trump at the White House as the pair exchanged cross words.

Royal sources revealed it was the Ukrainian president who asked to meet the monarch, often seen as a global peacemaker, during a whistlestop visit to London as the UK and European nations attempted to thrash out a route to peace for the eastern European country that was invaded by Russia three years ago.

In his message as head of the Commonwealth, Charles will say: “In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe that our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and an opportunity for learning, the Commonwealth’s remarkable collection of nations and peoples come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship. The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales are to join the King and Queen for the annual Commonwealth Day service next week. The princess is still making a gradual return to public duties after confirming she is in remission.

William, Kate, Charles and Camilla will also gather with the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester for the service on Monday in Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace announced. This year’s Commonwealth Day theme is Together We Thrive, which celebrates the “enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family”.

Charles normally gives an annual address each year to the family of 56 nations, but last year pre-recorded a video message after postponing his public-facing duties for around three months. Kate was diagnosed with cancer after having abdominal surgery at the start of last year and revealed at the end of March that she was undergoing chemotherapy. She has carried out a number of engagements this year, revealing in January she is in remission, as she continues her return to public life, including visiting Pontypridd ahead of St David’s Day last week.

During the service, singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading will perform an arrangement of her well-known hit Love And Affection for the 2,000-strong congregation. On the same day, the King will launch the inaugural King’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace, officially starting the countdown to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. It marks the 18th official Commonwealth Games relay, and Charles’s first as King.

He will place a message inside the baton, which will be sealed and kept closed until the opening ceremony next summer, when the King’s words will be read out to signal the start of the sporting competition. Charles will hand the baton to the first baton bearer, six-time Olympic champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy. Sir Chris, who has terminal prostate cancer, will walk through the Palace’s Quadrangle to the Centre Arch with a pathway lined by pipers from the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band London.

In 2021, the late Queen launched the Commonwealth Games 2022 baton relay at the Palace in what was her first major event since the start of the Covid pandemic. The 2026 Commonwealth Games are due to take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2 next year.

Charles and Camilla will also be guests of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland, at the annual Commonwealth Day reception on Monday and hear a commemorative song by Andrew Lloyd Webber to mark the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize.