A CEREMONY will take place on Monday to begin Commonwealth Day celebrations, with community groups to raise flags at Colchester Town Hall.

Commonwealth Day, which will mark the start of a week-long series of events and activities happening around the globe, will be the first to be presided over by King Charles as Head of the Commonwealth.

At 10.45am on Monday morning, town crier Robert Needham will read the Commonwealth Proclamation and a lone piper will play ‘Highland Cathedral’.

Commonwealth flags will then be raised at 11am, with Colchester Mayor Tim Young raising the Commonwealth of National flag of peace, which has been commissioned in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

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The flag will remain in place for one week.

Tim Young, who will hold a diversity Commonwealth Day event in the Moot Hall prior to the ceremony, said the celebration will allow people from across Colchester to learn more about the importance of the Commonwealth.

He said: "Colchester residents will have a wonderful opportunity to find out more about the Commonwealth this year, with a shared celebration of diversity and Commonwealth Day in the Moot Hall from 9am.

"And I hope people will also be able to join me, on the Town Hall steps, for the Flag raising."

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