British monarch King Charles praised the work of the Commonwealth on Monday, marking the 75th anniversary of its founding, despite his absence from the annual celebrations that he usually leads as he recovers from cancer treatment. This year's Commonwealth Day events are the first major royal occasion that Charles, 75, has missed since he had to postpone public appearances while undergoing treatment for an unspecified type of cancer.
His wife, Queen Camilla, was among the royal family members who attended a service at Westminster Abbey in London, which was to be followed by a reception at the Commonwealth's international headquarters. Typically, this event is one of the highlights of the annual royal calendar.
Despite his absence, Charles appeared via a pre-recorded video message to commend the Commonwealth's work, which encompasses 56 countries that emerged from the British Empire and were formally established in their current form in 1949.
In his message, Charles said, "As I have said before, the Commonwealth is like the wiring in a house, and our people, our energy, and our ideas are the current that flows through those wires." He added, "I have been deeply touched over the past weeks by your kind wishes... for my health. In return, all I can do is continue to serve you to the best of my abilities throughout the Commonwealth."
