Queen Elizabeth II will appear on television to celebrate the Commonwealth on March 7 – the same day that her grandson Harry’s much-anticipated but controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey will air.
She will share her annual message to mark Commonwealth Day, which is March 8 of this year, in a special broadcast on BBC One that will replace the regular annual service, which has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 94-year-old Queen will appear hours before Harry and his wife Meghan tell the world in “tell all” Oprah Winfrey‘s program why they left the royal family and what angered members of the British monarchy. She will deliver a message during the “Celebration for Commonwealth Day” to be broadcast on the BBC on March 7.
We are very pleased that this rich and dynamic BBC programme, with the Royal Family at the heart of the Abbey celebrating our international relations at a time when we are all so isolated.
David Hoyle – the Dean of Westminster
Westminster Abbey, where the annual service was to be held, said Monday that the program will also involve Harry’s father Prince Charles, his older brother Prince William, with his wife Kate and other members of the royal family.
Harry and Meghan attended last year’s Commonwealth Day ceremony in person. It was their last official royal engagement before they moved to Los Angeles and left their official duties, a decision that sent shock waves through the monarchy.
Last week, Buckingham Palace announced that the couple would no longer be returning and that their precious royal patronage would revert to the Queen and be divided among the other members of the family.
Oprah Winfrey’s scoop comes as the couple makes international headlines with the announcement of the upcoming arrival of a second child and the news that they are leaving British royalty for good.
Shortly after announcing the interview, Buckingham Palace announced that the couple were definitely no longer part of British royalty.
