THE Queen has used her Commonwealth Day message to praise the family of nations as a "powerful influence of good for the future".

She stressed that experiences across the Commonwealth may be different but everyone was focused on the same goals.

In her annual address, she highlighted this year's Commonwealth theme - Team Commonwealth - and how nations understood they could achieve more by working together.

The Queen's pre-recorded message will form part of the annual Observance of Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey this afternoon attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and a host of dignitaries. In her address, the Queen, who is head of the Commonwealth, said: "Affinities of history and inheritance from the past are strong, yet we are bound together by a sense that the Commonwealth is a powerful influence of good for the future.

"People of all ages from different cultures are weaving an ever-growing network of links."

The Queen also highlighted the Commonwealth Games, to be staged in Glasgow this summer, and how her baton was making its way around the globe through 70 nations.