The King, Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales today led the largest gathering of senior royals since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, marking Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey.

Kate dazzled in a navy Catherine Walker dress coat and five-strand pearl necklace that belonged to her husband’s late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

His Majesty, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, ignored a small but vocal group of anti-monarchist protestors as they arrived at the Abbey to support the King and Commonwealth.

It came amid reports that Charles is set to discuss the thorny issue of his brother Andrew and his place in the order of succession with Commonwealth leaders later. 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer took time away from the Iran crisis to join dignitaries from around the world in central London this afternoon. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was also in attendance.

Prince Albert of Monaco, Geri Horner and her husband Christian joined an array of stars and politicians in the Abbey.

Charles and Queen were the last guests to arrive after William and Kate, who were welcomed at the Abbey door by Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster.

The King and Queen then greeted all the other royals just inside the church before walking through the Abbey together as a family.

Charles’s annual address to the family of nations was included in a special booklet given to the congregation. He said in his message: ‘Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good…’.

The King praised the ‘precious’ Commonwealth, describing it as a forum for ‘honest discussion’ aimed at improving the lives of billions in an ‘increasingly fragmented’ world.     

Charles has also used his Commonwealth Day message to highlight how the institution has ‘untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners’.

His words to the 56 member states of the family of nations were released ahead of Monday’s Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

The King is the titular Head of the Commonwealth, following on from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth. 

Earlier large crowds had gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal party, who joined an 1,800-strong congregation celebrating the historic ‘family of nations’, formed in the breakdown of the British empire but now comprised of 56 independent member countries, united by ‘shared values including a commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for its 2.7 billion citizens’.

The royal party arrived to a fanfare inside the Abbey with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arriving first, followed by The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and then the Prince and Princess of Wales.

All were greeted by the Dean of Westminster and presented to the Chapter and members of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

They included Commonwealth Secretary General, The Hon Shirley Botchwey, and Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Janet Cooper.

Outside the faintest occasional cry of ‘what did you know’ could be heard from a small group of flag-waving anti-monarchist protesters from the Republic pressure group in reference to Andrew, but they were competing with the sound of the abbey bells and a group of Commonwealth musicians.

The King and Queen were the last to arrive, shaking the hands of those in the line-up before greeting the rest of the family with warm kisses. Charles opening up his arms to welcome to his eldest son and heir, with a smile of delight.

The ladies slightly giggled amongst themselves given the size of their hats, Princess Anne smilingly indicating to Catherine that she wouldn’t even attempt a kiss. Others just offered a peck on one cheek, instead of the traditional two for fear of knocking their sizeable headwear.

Led by the King, the family then formed into a processional group ahead of the National Anthem.

The party walked to their seats behind the Commonwealth Mace Bearer during the first hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation”.

In his annual Commonwealth Day message – which this year emphasises the theme of ‘collaboration’ – King Charles acknowledged deeply challenging times globally, but insisted it was also an opportunity for the Commonwealth to demonstrate its ‘enduring spirit’.

In his address, which was printed in the order of service, he said: ‘We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility.

‘Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed.

‘Ours is a remarkable association that spans every ocean and continent. Embracing an extraordinary diversity of culture, language and faith, our Commonwealth family is united by shared values of justice, democracy, opportunity, compassion and mutual respect.

‘In a world that can feel increasingly fragmented, this voluntary union of free association remains rare and precious – a forum for open and honest discussion and debate to help improve the lives of the nearly three billion people who call our Member States home.’

He stressed that the organisation holds ‘untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners’ – which some might consider a backhanded nod towards President Trump and his controversial trade tariffs.

He added: ‘With nearly two-thirds of our population under the age of thirty, we are a family defined by youth and possibility. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that they inherit not only hope and ambition, but also a world in which they can flourish.’

The King also used his message to highlight an environmental message, saying the inheritance pf the Commonwealth ‘depends upon the health of our planet and on the restoration of the natural world on which we depend’.

He continued: ‘Across so many parts of our Commonwealth climate change is not an abstract or distant threat, but a lived reality. The stewardship of Nature, the protection of oceans and forests, and the pursuit of prosperity secured in harmony with the natural world are duties we owe not only to one another, but to generations yet unborn.’

Highlighting this autumn’s biannual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, the King stressed that the organisation was very much the sum of its parts, saying: ‘We are reminded that the great gatherings of our nations are strengthened by the daily endeavours of their people. What distinguishes the Commonwealth is not only what our governments resolve together, but what our people do each day in countless acts of service, enterprise and creativity.

‘When leaders meet, they do so on behalf of millions whose quiet determination, resilience and generosity give true meaning to our shared endeavour.

‘Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good – grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people.’

Today’s service brought together government representatives, young people and leading voices from the creative community, providing an example of ‘the Commonwealth at its best – its diverse voices harmonised in common purpose’.

This years’ Service featured several landmark artistic moments including the world premiere of the Commonwealth Symphony composed by Rekesh Chauhan and a bespoke dance collaboration between the Royal Ballet School and Sapnay Entertainments Ltd., uniting classical ballet and Bollywood in a powerful expression of cross-cultural partnership.

The Service also included an address from Royal Commonwealth Society Ambassador Geri Halliwell-Horner, a reflection from dancer and television personality Oti Mabuse and a poem from Selina Tusitala Marsh, the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate.

Additional performances included a Scottish Ceilidh band, the Melodians Steel Drum Orchestra, and further special reflections and readings from notable guests.

Over the last 40 years the king has visited 48 Commonwealth countries, many of them on numerous occasions.

It came amid reports King Charles is ‘likely to discuss’ the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession during a meeting with Commonwealth leaders today.

The monarch, 77, will join leaders of the 56 member countries to mark the annual celebrations during a service at Westminster Abbey later this afternoon. 

It will also be the largest gathering of Royal Family members since Andrew’s arrest last month following allegations he shared classified information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

Charles attended the congregation of 1,800 people, made up of politicians and diplomats.

But in private, he is also likely to discuss removing Andrew, who denies any wrongdoing and remains under police investigation, from the line of succession.

The 66-year-old is currently eighth in line to the throne, with his removal requiring legislation in the UK and the approval of the 14 other Commonwealth realms where the King is head of state.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney became the latest Commonwealth leader to call for Andrew’s removal after describing his actions as ‘deplorable’. 

It followed interventions from the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand, who previously said they would support the UK Government in any such plans. 

It is understood that the UK Government will consider introducing legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession once police have finished their investigation into the King’s disgraced brother.

Sources also told the Times that no decision has yet been made on whether Andrew’s daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will also be removed. 

Beatrice, 37, as the oldest of the two siblings, is ninth in line to the throne, followed by her two children and Eugenie, 35. 

The pair were recently ‘blindsided’ by a decision to prevent them joining the rest of the Royal Family at Royal Ascot this year amid concerns about the unfolding scandal involving the House of York and their ties with Epstein. 

Defence Secretary John Healey last month ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK. 

Mr Healey tasked officials with trawling through more than two decades of Ministry of Defence records and handing over to police any flight logs linked to the late paedophile financier. 

Meanwhile, former prime minister Gordon Brown has written to six police forces demanding investigations into whether Andrew used jets, funded by the taxpayer, and RAF bases during his time as trade envoy to meet Epstein.

Andrew served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until 2011, when he stepped down amid controversy over his friendship with Epstein.