Maldivian flag once again flying at Commonwealth

The Maldivian flag is flying once again at the Commonwealth headquarters, after rejoining the Commonwealth.

High Commissioners from Commonwealth countries attended a flag-raising ceremony in the gardens of Marlborough House in London, UK.

The Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs hoisted the flag to receive applause and three cheers from onlookers.

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, said: "It is my pleasure to congratulate the Republic of Maldives on its successful application to rejoin the Commonwealth.

"We warmly welcome our colleagues and look forward to your active participation in all Commonwealth meetings. I look forward to welcoming His Excellency the President at the forthcoming heads of government meeting in Kigali this June."

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid, said: "I can assure you of the relief and joy felt by thousands of Maldivian citizens to be embraced back into this family. It's almost as if we never left."

"I'm honoured and humbled to be invited back to Marlborough House to formally commemorate our membership with the hoisting of the Malian flag, which has been absent since 2016."

"With this highly symbolic yet significant gesture, we commit ourselves to the Commonwealth Charter and the values and principles that bind us together in the pursuit of democratic norms, human rights and good governance."

"We very much look forward to picking up where we left off 4 years ago."