Abbey Commonwealth Service

1 As of 2012 there are 54 countries in the Commonwealth, containing about one quarter of the world's population.

2 The origins of the Commonwealth come from Britain's former Empire. Many of the members of the Commonwealth were territories which had historically come under British rule at various times by settlement, conquest or cession.

3 The Queen is Queen of 16 the 54 Commonwealth member countries, all of them fully independent. She is represented by a Governor-General in all Realms except the UK.

4 Commonwealth Day, marked on the second Monday in March, is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth. The day was chosen as one when all Commonwealth children would be in school.

The Duke of Edinburgh has arrived at Westminster Abbey for a Commonwealth Service.

Buckingham Palace confirmed earlier that the Queen would not attend due to her continuing recovery from her recent illness.

However, Her Majesty is due to attend a reception this evening at the palace.

Read: The Queen cancels Commonwealth Day church service visit.

The Queen will not attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey today as she continues to recover following her recent illness, Buckingham Palace said today.

The Queen will sign the new Commonwealth Charter in an event on Monday after it received the support of every Commonwealth nation.

According to the Mail on Sunday, the charter which backs equal rights for women and gay people says:

The Government is introducing new legislation ending discrimination against women in the line of succession to the British throne.

The measure will mean that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first baby can succeed to the throne, regardless of whether the child is a girl or a boy.

The Queen is set to sign a new charter backing equal rights for women and gay people after it received the support of every Commonwealth nation, it was reported tonight.

The monarch will sign the new Commonwealth Charter in an event on Monday which includes the core values - from human rights to the rule of law - that leaders have committed to upholding.

According to the Mail on Sunday, the document declares: "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.

Insiders said the decision to highlight the event is a "watershed" moment because it is the first time she has signalled her support for gay rights in her 61-year reign, the paper claimed.

The Queen is expected to sign the document at London's Marlborough House, the Pall Mall headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat on Monday, which is Commonwealth Day.

The Queen is set to sign a new charter backing equal rights for women and gay people in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth, a Buckingham Palace spokesman has confirmed.

The Mail on Sunday quoted one Royal Household source as saying: "The Queen takes her Commonwealth role very seriously. She has discussed the charter in detail with her advisers and understands it in full."

The Queen is to sign a new charter backing equal rights for women and gay people in every Commonwealth nation.

In a special ceremony to mark Commonwealth Day, she will endorse the document which includes the core values - from human rights to the rule of law - that leaders have committed to upholding.

In a pre-recorded speech to be broadcast today, the monarch will say the values of the new charter have "special emphasis" on including everyone in striving for a better future.

Read the full text and listen to the speech here:

The new Commonwealth charter does not mention gay rights nor does the Queen in her speech. Homosexual acts are still illegal in 41 Commonwealth nations.