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09/03/2009
Queen Leads Commonwealth Day
A special service will be held in London today marking 60 years of the Commonwealth.
The Queen will lead gatherers at Westminster Abbey, where 53 High Commissioners will meet in celebration.
Despite the Royal fanfare, recent polls have found that the importance of the Commonwealth in the eyes of Britons is dwindling.
In a YouGov only 35% of 18-35 year olds suggested they would be sorry if the UK withdrew from the system.
The study was commissioned by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS).
Attitudes and views were submitted by 2,119 UK adult respondents.
The Queen has reaffirmed her commitment to focusing the Commonwealth on the young.
In her Commonwealth Day message she said: "Nearly one billion people of today's Commonwealth are under 25 years of age,
"These are the people that this association must continue to serve in the future."
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah of RCS said: "Beyond sports and the Sovereign, British people appear to know little about what the Commonwealth is or does."
Surprisingly, 1% of those surveyed wrongly identified U2 singer Bono as the Head of the Commonwealth, while another 3% thought it was US President Barack Obama.
(PR/JM)
The Queen will lead gatherers at Westminster Abbey, where 53 High Commissioners will meet in celebration.
Despite the Royal fanfare, recent polls have found that the importance of the Commonwealth in the eyes of Britons is dwindling.
In a YouGov only 35% of 18-35 year olds suggested they would be sorry if the UK withdrew from the system.
The study was commissioned by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS).
Attitudes and views were submitted by 2,119 UK adult respondents.
The Queen has reaffirmed her commitment to focusing the Commonwealth on the young.
In her Commonwealth Day message she said: "Nearly one billion people of today's Commonwealth are under 25 years of age,
"These are the people that this association must continue to serve in the future."
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah of RCS said: "Beyond sports and the Sovereign, British people appear to know little about what the Commonwealth is or does."
Surprisingly, 1% of those surveyed wrongly identified U2 singer Bono as the Head of the Commonwealth, while another 3% thought it was US President Barack Obama.
(PR/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Low cloud, mist or fog at first will clear through the morning to leave a dry day with some prolonged sunny spells through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 21 °C.Tonight:Dry with clear spells for most places through the evening and overnight will allow the odd mist or fog patch to form. Coastal low cloud spreads into northern counties. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
