Commonwealth Parliamentary Association celebrates Commonwealth Day 2025 across its 180 Parliaments and Legislatures
‘Together We Thrive’
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) celebrates Commonwealth Day 2025 on Monday 10 March 2025 across the CPA’s nine Regions and around 180 Parliaments and Legislatures.
The Commonwealth Day 2025 theme is ‘Together We Thrive’, celebrating the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth Family – 56 independent member countries united by shared values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.
Rooted in the principles of family, unity and peace, the theme highlights the importance of fostering strong and connected communities that support and empower their members, enabling meaningful progress.
As the Head of the Commonwealth and Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, His Majesty King Charles III will share a selection of his favourite music from around the Commonwealth in ‘The King’s Music Room’ to mark Commonwealth Day 2025 on 10 March.
“Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me. I know that is also the case for so many others. It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places. But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits to such a degree, and all the more so when it brings us together in celebration. In other words, it brings us joy.”
See a preview of 'The King's Music Room' below or click here.
The traditional multi-faith Commonwealth Service was held at Westminster Abbey in London where King Charles and Queen Camilla joined Members of the Royal Family, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, representatives of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, High Commissioners, dignitaries and over 600 schoolchildren.
The Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP (Zambia) said:
“As we celebrate Commonwealth Day 2025, we recognise the work of Commonwealth Parliaments and Parliamentarians in promoting our democratic values and principles. The Commonwealth family is strongest when connected through friendship and common purpose and our diversity is our greatest strength.”
The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg said:
“’Together we thrive’ is the powerful theme for Commonwealth Day 2025. It is a theme which underpins the day-to-day work of the Commonwealth and its diverse range of member countries, organisations and networks – including the CPA. Let us take the opportunity of Commonwealth Day to celebrate our shared achievements and dedicate ourselves once again to meet the many challenges that the Commonwealth will face in 2025 – and beyond.”
The Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP (Zambia) and the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg attended the ceremonial raising of the Commonwealth flag and commemorative event at the UK Parliament hosted by the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP along with representatives from across the Commonwealth in attendance.
Commonwealth Day offers the opportunity for Parliaments and Parliamentarians to engage with young people through their wider public outreach. The CPA has produced resources like the Commonwealth Day Youth Engagement Handbook and the CPA’s Engagement, Education and Outreach Handbook for Commonwealth Parliaments Transparent Institutions to provide guidance for Legislatures on Commonwealth Day.
The CPA also celebrates the young people in the Commonwealth through ongoing initiatives like the Commonwealth Youth Parliament and parliamentary visits to schools, colleges and universities, and Commonwealth Day is an opportunity for Parliaments to engage with young people through their wider public outreach.
Commonwealth Day is celebrated annually on the second Monday of March.
CPA Branches hosted a wide range of in-person and virtual events for Commonwealth Day 2025. Reports on these events will feature on the CPA website and in the next issue of The Parliamentarian.
