Commonwealth Day 2026 Celebrated on St Helena

St Helena celebrated Commonwealth Day 2026 on Monday 9 March with assemblies at St Helena Secondary School (SHSS) and the Key Stage 1 and 2 schools, as well as a flag-raising ceremony held at Anne’s Place, Jamestown. This year’s theme, ‘Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth’, focused on partnership, sustainable economic growth, and skill development, particularly for youth and women across the 56 member countries.

To open the ceremony at Anne’s Place, the Speaker of the St Helena Legislative Council and St Helena Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch President, Maureen Thompson, delivered a welcoming speech. The speech highlighted the island’s participation in the upcoming flag-raising ceremony at the Palace of Westminster and highlighted that St Helena’s future prosperity relies on international collaboration and sustainable development. Central to the message was a call to empower the island’s youth, preparing them to lead on the world stage in fields ranging from governance to technology and sports.

HE Governor Nigel Phillips CBE read the message from Head of the Commonwealth, His Majesty King Charles III. Chief Minister, Hon Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks MBE, read a message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Hon Shirley Botchwey, and Vice Chairperson of the Youth Parliament, Lilli Adams, read the Commonwealth Affirmation.

Shortly after, Speaker Thompson raised the Commonwealth Flag as part of the ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’ initiative. This initiative aims to inspire participants to join with others throughout the Commonwealth, a family of 56 member states, which has a combined population of 2.7 billion, with more than 60% aged 29 or under, representing around a third of the world’s Commonwealth’s population.

Speaker Thompson commented:

“Today, we join hands with 56 nations in celebrating our shared journey, our enduring values, and our vision for a brighter future. Our prosperity is built on collaboration, it is about partnership both within our community and with our friends across the globe to invest in our infrastructure, our sustainable development, and our people.”

To commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Commonwealth of Nations and to discuss its past accomplishments and ongoing aspirations, guest speakers Mr Jonathan Passaportis of St Helena Tourism, Youth Entrepreneur Mr Louis Youde, and Zac Bargo of the St Helena Youth Parliament were invited to speak at the ceremony.

Councillor Ronald Coleman MLC concluded the ceremony with thanks to HE the Governor, speakers, attendees, Anne’s Place staff, and the working group, marking the end of the Commonwealth Day 2026 event.

The Commonwealth Day message from the Head of the Commonwealth was read by Members of the Legislative Council at schools across the island. Minister Andrew Turner and Councillor Julie Thomas MLC attended the assembly at SHSS whilst Councillor Robert Midwinter MLC attended the assembly at the Key Stage 1 School, and Councillor Dr Corinda Essex MLC attended the Key Stage 2 assembly.

St Helena Government UK Representative, Mrs Kedell Worboys MBE, was also invited to attend several engagements to commemorate Commonwealth Day in the UK.

Representing the island in London, Mrs Worboys, attended a series of high-profile events to mark the occasion, beginning with a flag-raising ceremony at Portcullis House. This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates on behalf of the Government and people of St Helena. After attending the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey, Mrs Worboys concluded the day’s commemorations at a reception hosted by HM The King at St James’s Palace.

Deputy Speaker of the St Helena Legislative Council, Connie Johnson, Councillor Dennis Leo MLC and Legislative Council Office Assistant, Marita Bagley, who are in the UK attending the Westminster Seminar attended the Flag-Raising Ceremony, where Connie read an extract from “The House of the Commonwealth” and the Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey.

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