The was a brief security scare on Monday afternoon after protestors tried to storm security fences around Westminster Abbey just 45 minutes before The Royal Family was due to arrive.
Video posted on social media shows a brawl breaking out near the entrance to Westminster Abbey with police restraining protestors.
The Cameroon protestors just tried to storm the security fences at @wabbey … 45 mins before the Royal Family are due to rock up pic.twitter.com/AYA1KbpeSc
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) March 9, 2020
The Royal Family are due at Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Day Service.
The Duke & Duchess of Sussex will join Her Majesty The Queen, the Prince of Wales & the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge for the service next week.
Cameroon protestors are here protesting the commonwealth and a brawl has broken out in front of a Westminster Abbey. #cbc pic.twitter.com/6B62yVFwTV
— Briar Stewart (@briarstewart) March 9, 2020
In previous years the Duke of York also attended, however, following his effective resignation as a working royal, he will be staying away from the day of celebration.
The Duke & Duchess of Sussex’s final day as senior working royals will be March 31. They have a light diary up until that point, with the Commonwealth Day Service likely to be one of their last, if not the very last official joint engagement.
The Commonwealth represents a global network of 54 countries, including the Maldives who re-joined earlier this year.
The Commonwealth theme for 2020 is ‘Delivering A Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, placing emphasis on youth, the environment, trade, governance, ICT and innovation.
Highlights of the upcoming Commonwealth Day Service, which is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom, will include a reflection given by international boxing champion and Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua, and special musical performances by chart topping singers Alexandra Burke and Craig David.
Also attending the event will be Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland, as well as High Commissioners, Ambassadors and dignitaries from across the UK and Commonwealth.
The service will be broadcast live on BBC One and the BBC World Service.
Later in the evening, Prince Charles and Camilla will be guests of the Secretary-General at the annual Commonwealth Day Reception at Marlborough House.
The Queen was just 26 years old when she became Head of the Commonwealth in 1952. During her leadership, the Commonwealth has grown from just seven nations to 54.
