C
ommonwealth Day is the annual
celebration of the Commonwealth
of Nations held on the 24th May. It
is marked by a multi-faith service in
Westminster Abbey. The Programme is
normally attended by Queen Elizabeth II,
Head of the Commonwealth, along with
the Commonwealth Secretary-General
and
Commonwealth
High
Commissioners in London. The Queen delivers an welcome address to the
Commonwealth, which is broadcasted throughout the world. Also, in the year
before the quadrennial Commonwealth Games, the Queen starts the Queen's
Baton Relay on Commonwealth Day at Buckingham Palace, handing the
baton to the first relay runner to start a journey that will end at the Opening
Ceremony of the upcoming Games. Though Commonwealth Day has a
certain official status, but still it is not a public holiday in most
Commonwealth countries besides that,
there is a little public awareness about it.
After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901,
her birthday 24th May was made an
official annual commemoration under the
name Empire Day. In 1958 Empire Day
was renamed as Commonwealth Day, in
accordance with the new post-colonial
relationship between the nations of the former empire.
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The
aim
of
commemorating
Commonwealth
Day
is
to
promote
understanding on global issues, international co-operation. The main
objective of the Commonwealth is to improve the lives of its citizens in
Commonwealth nations. The modern Commonwealth, which has its origins
in the former British Empire, today comprises 53 independent member states.
Thirty-two members are republics, 16 have constitutional monarchies which
recognize HM Queen Elizabeth II as their Head of State, and five have
national monarchies (Brunei Darussalam, Lesotho, Malaysia, Swaziland and
Tonga).
List Commonwealth Countries
1. Antigua and Barbuda 1981 Realm
2. Australia 1931 Realm
3. The Bahamas 1973 Realm
4. Bangladesh 1972 Republic
5. Barbados 1966 Realm
6. Belize 1981 Realm
7. Botswana 1966 Republic
8. Brunei 1984 Monarchy
9. Cameroon 1995 Republic
10. Canada 1931 Realm
11. Cyprus 1961 Republic
12. Dominica 1978 Republic
13. Fiji Islands 1997 Republic
14. The Gambia 1965 Republic
15. Ghana 1957 Republic
16. Grenada 1974 Realm
17. Guyana 1966 Republic
18. India 1947 Republic
19. Jamaica 1962 Realm
20. Kenya 1963 Republic
21. Lesotho 1966 Monarchy
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22. Malawi 1964 Republic
23. Malaysia 1957 Monarchy
24. The Maldives 1982 Republic
25. Malta 1964 Republic
26. Mauritius 1968 Republic
27. Mozambique 1995 Republic
28. Namibia 1990 Republic
29. Nauru 1968 Republic
30. New Zealand 1931 Realm
31. Nigeria 1960 Republic
32. Pakistan 1947 Republic
33. Papua New Guinea 1975 Realm
34. St. Christopher and Nevis 1983 Realm
35. St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1979 Realm
36. Samoa 1970 Republic
37. Seychelles 1976 Republic
38. Sierra Leone 1961 Republic
39. Singapore 1965 Republic
40. Solomon Islands 1978 Realm
41. South Africa 1931
42. (withdrew in 1961,
43. rejoined in 1994) Republic
44. Sri Lanka 1948 Republic
45. Swaziland 1968 Monarchy
46. Tanzania 1961 Republic
47. Tonga 1970 Monarchy
48. Trinidad and Tobago 1962 Republic
49. Tuvalu 1978 Realm
50. United Kingdom Monarchy
51. Uganda 1962 Republic
52. Vanuatu 1980 Republic
53. Zambia 1964 Republic
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