Commonwealth Day is a bit different this year, with ceremonies in Dorchester unable to go ahead.

Usually, there would be an event with councillors, dignitaries, and residents to raise the Commonwealth flag.

Dorset Council is marking the day by flying the Commonwealth flag over County Hall today (Monday).

However, the chairman of Dorset Council councillor Val Pothecary, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell and the High Sheriff of Dorset George Streatfield have recorded the speeches they would have given.

Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration marked by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe.

This year, Commonwealth Day is centred around the same theme as last year, 'Delivering a Common Future', which aims to highlights how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are 'innovating, connecting and transforming' to help achieve some of its biggest goals, like fighting climate change, promoting good governance and boosting trade'.

The Queen delivered her annual message in 'A Celebration for Commonwealth Day', which was broadcast yesterday (Sunday) on BBC1. The service is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and the BBC's YouTube channel.

More information can be found here.

Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter below!

You can submit your own news straight to Dorchester Nub News by using the 'Nub It' button on our home page. This can also be done for events on our What's On page and businesses, groups and organisations on our Local Listings page , also by using the 'Nub It' button.

Please like and follow our online newspaper on your favourite social media channel. You can find us @DorchesterNubNews on Facebook and @DorchesterNub Twitter.