St Helena marked Commonwealth Day 2025 with a series of events, including assemblies at Prince Andrew School and the island’s primary schools, as well as a flag-raising ceremony at Plantation House. The theme for this year was ‘Together We Thrive’, emphasizing the shared values of Commonwealth nations as outlined in the Commonwealth Charter.
The ceremony at Plantation House began with a speech by Cyril Gunnell, Speaker of the House and President of St Helena’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch. Gunnell emphasized the importance of shared values in building a future for young people and called for continued support for youth initiatives.
Governor Nigel Phillips CBE read a message from His Majesty King Charles III, Head of the Commonwealth. Chief Minister Julie Thomas MLC conveyed a message from Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. Zac Bargo, Chair of the Youth Parliament, delivered the Commonwealth Affirmation.
Following these messages, Speaker Gunnell raised the Commonwealth Flag as part of the ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’ initiative. This effort seeks to inspire unity among participants across 56 member states with a population totaling 2.7 billion people.
Gunnell remarked during the flag-raising: “As we raise the Commonwealth flag today, let us remind ourselves of the core principles that unite us: respect for diversity, commitment to democracy, and dedication to human rights.”
Guest speakers Sheena Benjamin from St Helena National Trust and Gerarda Hubbard from SHAPE spoke about past accomplishments and future aspirations on this 76th anniversary of the Commonwealth.
Councillor Gillian Brooks concluded by thanking all involved in organizing and attending the event.
In addition to local celebrations, Mrs Kedell Worboys represented St Helena at several UK engagements commemorating Commonwealth Day. She attended ceremonies in Parliament and Westminster Abbey alongside representatives from The Falkland Islands and Tristan da Cunha.
