The BBC is facing backlash after it was revealed that it will not air the Commonwealth Day Service for the first time.
It will not air the Commonwealth Day Service live for the first time in 37 years. Instead, an episode of “Escape to the Country” will be televised.
The broadcaster stated “funding challenges” as the reason for the change.
A spokesperson told the Sun, “Our decision not to broadcast the Commonwealth Day ceremony in the same way we’ve done in previous years reflects the difficult choices we have to make in light of our funding challenges.
“BBC News plans to cover the service across its platforms, including the BBC One bulletins and rolling news channel.”
Viewers expressed their dismay on social media, calling it “appalling,” and one said the BBC is “now completely irrelevant.”
The Commonwealth Day Service is a highlight in the royal calendar and has been aired each year since 1989, with the exception of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service is held annually at Westminster Abbey and will be attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and the Princess Royal. It began in 1972.
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