Commonwealth Day 2024

Commonwealth Day took place on Monday 11 March 2024, marking the beginning of a week-long series of events and activities happening around the globe – including faith and civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag-raising ceremonies and cultural events.  The Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration took place in Westminster Abbey, led by HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales supported by senior members of the Royal family. In the absence of HM The King, a video message from His Majesty was broadcast to the Abbey congregation and to the Commonwealth.Read more

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

It is with great sadness that the CPU Media Trust records the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022. Her Majesty was a committed supporter of the Commonwealth and the work done by organisations such as the CPU Media Trust and the organisation had a very good working relationship with Buckingham Palace over the years.Showing an ongoing interest in the Commonwealth media, Her Majesty invited delegates to receptions during two of the CPU Conferences over the past 20 years and always showed a keen interest in the workings of…Read more

CHOGM 2022 Communique

On the final day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2022 (CHOGM 2022), leaders met today in Kigali, under the theme of 'Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming'. The CHOGM 2022 Communique can be found by clicking here Heads underscored the importance of connecting, innovating, and transforming in order to facilitate a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, achieve the 2030 Agenda, and to respond to conflicts and crises in ways that increase resilience and progress in delivering a common future, underpinned by sustainability, peace and prosperity, to improve the lives…Read more

West African States Togo and Gabon Join the Commonwealth

Gabon and Togo joined the Commonwealth on Saturday, becoming the latest nations with no historic ties to Britain to enter the English-speaking club headed by Queen Elizabeth II.  The 54-nation group of mostly former British colonies accepted Togo and Gabon’s application for membership on the final day of its leadership summit in Rwanda. “We have admitted Gabon and Togo as new members, and we all welcome them to the Commonwealth family,” Rwandan President Paul Kagame said at the closing press conference. The French-speaking West African states are the first new members to join…Read more

Secretary-General Baroness Scotland re-elected for second term

By convention, incumbents are re-elected unopposed if they stand for a second term as secretary general. Her term had already been extended by two years from her initial four-year tenure because the Rwanda summit, originally scheduled to take place in 2020, was postponed until now due to the coronavirus pandemic.Read more

Commonwealth Secretariat denies entry to at least 2 journalists seeking to cover summit in Rwanda; others left in limbo

The Commonwealth Secretariat should ensure that all journalists can freely cover the upcoming summit in Rwanda, and should not allow the press accreditation process to be used as a political tool, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which brings together the leaders of Commonwealth nations for meetings every two years, is scheduled to be held in Rwanda from June 20 to 25. Foreign correspondents’ access to cover the event is controlled by the Commonwealth Secretariat, while the Rwandan government is responsible for the accreditation of domestic media,…Read more

Commonwealth Leadership row ahead of leaders’ summit

Jamaica's foreign minister has denied she is a proxy candidate for the UK in her bid to replace Baroness Scotland as secretary general of the Commonwealth.  Kamina Johnson Smith told the BBC she was "offended" both personally and on behalf of Jamaica by the suggestion. She said it "bore no relevance to reality". Commonwealth heads of government meet in Rwanda next week to decide who should lead the 54-nation body that encompasses 2.5 billion people.  The Queen remains titular head of the Commonwealth - and will be represented by Prince Charles in Kigali…Read more

South African exhibition for former Trustee’s wife

To celebrate the life of her late husband Brian Nicholson CBE for the Commonwealth Press Union, Henrietta Nicholson is holding a private view of the exhibition of her paintings on Thursday 10 March from 5pm to 8pm at the Cellars-Hohenhort Hotel, 93 Bromersvlei Road, Constantia Heights, Cape Town 7806. The paintings reflect her time in South Africa, India and living in Glyndebourne in the United Kingdom.  Henrietta would be delighted to meet you and show you her work. Read more

New date announced for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

The President of the Republic of Rwanda, and Commonwealth Secretary-General have announced the week of 20 June 2022 as the new date agreed with member countries for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). CHOGM was due to have been held in Kigali in June 2020 but has been postponed twice due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. CHOGM is customarily held every two years and is the Commonwealth’s highest consultative and policy-making gathering. Commonwealth leaders selected Rwanda as host for their next summit when they met in London in 2018.Read more

CHOGM 2021 to be postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, and Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, have announced the postponement of CHOGM 2021 as a result of the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.   Having reviewed all available evidence and risk assessments including with the World Health Organization (WHO) and their risk assessment tool, and after close consultation between the Commonwealth Secretariat and Member States, the decision has been made to postpone the CHOGM in Kigali for a second time. Speaking on the postponement, President Kagame said: “The decision to postpone CHOGM…Read more