The Commonwealth Service 2026 was attended by the senior members of the British royal family, including King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Princess Anne, her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also in attendance. However, there was one, rather more unexpected appearance, as Prince Albert of Monaco was among the early arrivals at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
Albert, 67, is a distant cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, but Monaco is not part of the Commonwealth, so the reason behind his attendance is unknown.
Nevertheless, Albert, who is married to Princess Charlene, appeared in bright spirits as he waved to press upon arrival at the Abbey, joining the 1,800-strong congregation inside.
His appearance marked a display of support for the royal family, which has found itself under pressure following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor last month.
Prince Albert's friendship with Prince William
Prince Albert and Prince William have much in common – as both are passionate about protecting the environment. In June last year, William visited Monaco for World Oceans Day, where he was joined by Albert, whose Gimaldi Forum venue was hosting the event. The pair were seen shaking hands and chatting.
Like his father, King Charles, William is a keen supporter of the environment. His Earthshot Prize awards were launched back in 2020, with the aim of better protecting the planet.
William and Albert previously worked together at the Earthshot Summit in 2023 and in January last year attended the Aston Villa v Monaco Champions League football match – though they were supporting opposing teams.
© Getty ImagesCommonwealth Service 2026
On Monday, the King led the country in celebrating the Commonwealth, describing the family of nations as a "force for good" in his message to its 56 member states.
The royal family gathered at the Abbey’s Great West Door and were greeted in turn by Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster, before the arrival of the King and Queen. For decades the service has been broadcast by the BBC, but this year they instead showed Escape To The Country.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesOutgoing BBC director general Tim Davie was among the congregation, as was singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, who performed at last year’s service, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, and popular children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson.
In his message to the family of nations, marking Commonwealth Day, Charles said: "Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good – grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people."
There was a large anti-monarchy protest opposite the Abbey, with demonstrators holding "Not My King" and "Abolish the Monarchy" banners.
