Children from Ashby Willesley Primary School attended the annual Commonwealth Day celebration at the Memorial Garden in Brook Street yesterday (Monday).

The pupils raised the Commonwealth Flag following a ceremony at 10am which was also attended by Ashby's Mayor Councillor Rita Manning.

A different primary school is chosen to be part of the event each year, and this year it was Ashby Willesley.

Those gathered in Ashby town centre were told that that, in spirit, the celebration was shared by 2.4billion people in the 54 countries of the Commonwealth.

The children also read out the Act of Affirmation of the Commonwealth before raising the flag and the singing of the National Anthem.

You can see that in the above video.

The Affirmation read: "Joining together as members of one worldwide Commonwealth community and valuing the personal dignity and worth of every citizen, we raise this flag is a symbol of our types of kinship and affinity that we cherish.

"We draw inspiration from our diversity, and opportunities for working together, as a rich source of wisdom and a powerful influence for good in the world.

"We affirm our commitment to upholding the values set out in the Commonwealth Charter, to serving one another in a spirit of respect and understanding and to advancing development, democracy and cooperation locally, nationally and internationally."

The ceremony also attended by former Mayor, Cllr Graham Allman, and Town Clerk, Jack Fargher.

Commonwealth Day - formerly Empire Day - is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1977, and is often held on the second Monday in March.

It is marked by an Anglican service in Westminster Abbey, normally attended by Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth.

However, this year The Queen was not in attendance and asked for Prince Charles to attend in her place, this was due to mobility problems.

Buckingham Palace released a statement on the matter last Friday which read: "The Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday. The Queen will continue with other planned engagements, including in person Audiences, in the week ahead."