CHILDREN from three schools across South Lakeland and North Lancashire attended a service at Westminster Abbey in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen.

A selection of pupils from Wilson’s Endowed CE school in Over Kellet, Flookburgh CofE Primary School and Castle Park School in Kendal joined 800 other schoolchildren and young people from across the UK to observe Commonwealth Day - an annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations.

This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the now 53-strong group of states.

Other members of the royal family were also in attendance, including HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Prime Minister Theresa May.

The service at Westminster Abbey, which included contributions from tenor Alfie Boe and musicians Clean Bandit, was televised live on the BBC.

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Gill Pett, headteacher of Flookburgh CofE Primary School, said: “The children were all very excited to be part of this special occasion which is the world’s premier, inter-faith event to celebrate the Commonwealth of Nations.

“The theme for this year‘s service was ‘A Connected Commonwealth’, which linked really well with Flookburgh School’s whole school-curriculum focus of ‘All Around the World’ and the school’s work on human rights, rule of law, democracy and stewardship of the environment.”

The service was particularly special for student Nel Stryj, of Wilson’s Endowed CE School, who was greeted by the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle when the royal family processed down the aisle.

Back at the school in Over Kellet, the special day was marked with lessons teaching pupils about the Commonwealth, as well as a lunch shared with parents which featured food from across the globe - such as curry with samosas and Singapore noodles.

The meal was also part of the The Eden Project’s ‘The Big Lunch’, a campaign which encourages people to bond and get to know each-other over a shared meal.

Jo Williams, headteacher at Wilson’s Endowed, said: ‘This special day enables our pupils to celebrate our global community of the Commonwealth - looking outwards, supporting one another and recognising everyone’s contribution.”