On the day of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Campaign Pickup event, the Parley Maldives team, along with members of the Maldives Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Sport, set out from Malé on a 1.5-hour boat journey to the island of Vaavu Fulidhoo. It was scorching when we arrived, and we gathered with the Fulidhoo community including Fulidhoo Council members, Vaavu Atoll School students and staff, and representatives from the Commonwealth, to kick off the event. The Boat Jour

We are delighted to share the highlights of a remarkable year at the Royal Commonwealth Society. Over the past twelve months, our global community has come together with energy, generosity, and a shared commitment to advancing equality, education, and environmental sustainability across the Commonwealth. As you read our Year in Review, we hope you will feel proud of what has been achieved together and inspired by the collective spirit that continues to shape our work and our

The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign was delighted to support an invaluable clean-up event in Singapore, delivered by the environmental charity Ocean Purpose Project (OPP) and supported by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). Bringing together volunteers committed to protecting Singapore’s coastal ecosystems, the event was held along the shores of Pasir Ris, an area known both for its natural beauty and its susceptibility to marine debris. The team at O

Last month, the Kings Baton Relay visited India, we wanted to shine a light on the work that our partners ReefWatch Marine Conservation are undertaking to protect India’s marine and coastal ecosystems through restoration, research, outreach, and community engagement. A key focus for Reefwatch are its projects spanning habitat restoration, marine wildlife response, and efforts to address plastic pollution, each contributing to its broader objective of safeguarding ocean health

Last night, the Royal Commonwealth Society welcomed guests to a truly enchanting celebration at our Candlelit Christmas Concert, held in the beautiful surroundings of St James’s Piccadilly. St James's Piccadilly in Candlelight Illuminated by the gentle glow of candlelight, the evening brought together High Commissioners, RCS Ambassadors, Trustees, friends, volunteers, and supporters of the Society to mark the festive season. From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere was

The Royal Commonwealth Society was honoured to host the 2025 High Commissioners’ Banquet on 25 November, continuing a tradition that has brought together Commonwealth leaders and friends since 1874. Held in partnership with the City of London Corporation and delivered in association with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), this year’s Banquet gathered diplomats, civic leaders, business representatives, athletes, and supporters from across our 56 nation

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025 achieved a historic milestone, attracting a record-breaking 53,434 entries from across the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth - a 53% increase from 2024. Submissions came from 54 nations, with particularly strong participation from Ghana, Nigeria, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Maldives.  This record-breaking milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support

Each year from 25 th November to 10 th December the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence provides a space to reflect on the uneven progress across the world. The 2025 theme, “ UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls ”, is timely. It recognises that gender-based violence now takes place not only in homes, workplaces and communities but also in online spaces that shape how young people communicate, learn and work.    The evolving nature of digit

In a historic feat that celebrates literacy, teamwork, and the power of storytelling, Nigeria has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon reading aloud by a team. Setting a new world record of 431 hours 31 mins and 25mins.   The previous record which stood at 365hours and was held by the Dominican Republic for 14 years, has now been surpassed by the Naija ReadFest team, led by Kingsley Sintim, an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society 

Her Majesty The Queen, Vice-Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society, hosted a reception for winners and runners-up of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025. At a reception at St James’s Palace, The Queen celebrated the winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025, the world’s oldest writing competition for schools, delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) since 1883.  For 2025, the competition theme was ‘Our Commonwealth Journey’, which invit

On 2 November the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign reached Malaysia. At Pantai Batu Laut, on Malaysia’s coastline, volunteers from MY Clean Beach gathered together with the Commonwealth Games Association of Malaysia as part of the King’s Baton Relay, to remove plastics and other debris from the shorelines.   The hundred volunteers collected 242.9 kilograms of waste which was then counted and sorted for safe disposal, recycling plastic where possible. Over 40 kilos

Mei Sim Lai OBE DL giving her remarks during the launch of the UK Malaysian Film Festival 2025. As one of the flagship events of  The British Malaysian Society  the UK Malaysian Film Festival made its much-anticipated return on 27th October 2025 at the new Everyman Cinema Whiteley, in London . Now in its second iteration, the festival celebrates the vibrant resurgence of Malaysian storytelling on the big screen here in the UK. Hosting a Malaysian film festival in the UK repre

The Royal Commonwealth Society is launching a new photography competition, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the City of London Youth Natural Environment Board, to celebrate the creativity and environmental awareness of young people across the Commonwealth. Young people everywhere are stepping up to lead the global conversation about the ocean, its beauty, and the importance of protecting it for the future. The competition aims to shine a light on how young

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda have announced the official theme for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM): Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth. The launch took place in St. John’s during the Commonwealth Secreta,ry-General The Hon. Shirley Botchwey’s first official visit to the country, alongside the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Gaston Browne.  The theme sets the age

Feminism in Pakistan is a movement that has been shaped by the country’s unique cultural, social, and religious context. It challenges the traditional patriarchal norms and strives for the empowerment of women within the framework of Pakistani society. The construction of self for Pakistani women is deeply intertwined with the feminist struggle, as it seeks to redefine their roles and identities in a society that has historically placed limitations on them.    In Pakistan, fe

On 13 October 2025, the shores of The Gambia witnessed an inspiring demonstration of community action and environmental leadership. As part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, a large-scale beach clean-up brought together volunteers, athletes, environmental advocates, and local organisations in a shared mission: tackling plastic pollution along one of the country’s most important stretches of coastline. The initiative, led by WasteAid, an international environ

The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is proud to announce the winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) 2025, the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools.  This year’s competition achieved a historic milestone, attracting a record-breaking 53,434 entries from across the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth - a 53% increase from 2024. Submissions came from 54 nations, with particularly strong participation from Ghana, Nigeria, Malaysi

Rwanda’s leg of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign and the Kings Baton Relay, took place from 25 to 30 October. This marks the end of the African leg of the journey to Glasgow 2026. The activities were centred around the shores of Lake Kivu  in Rubavu District and brought together sport, sustainability and community much like these two projects intended, and the Commonwealth promotes.

On 23rd September 2025, Wild Entrust and Commonwealth Sport Botswana welcomed the Commonwealth Games Federation’s King’s Baton Relay to Maun. The Baton, which travels through every Commonwealth nation Campaign began at 8 am on Le Morne Beach. Orchestrated by RCS’s in-country partner We Recycle and Commonwealth Games Mauritius, a 25-strong team comprised of community members, youth, and athletes collected 35 kg of litter, amounting to 8,228 pieces of plastic, from along the Le

Commonwealth Society Barbados Plans for Commonwealth House The Commonwealth Society of Barbados has announced exciting plans for the creation of its first permanent headquarters, Commonwealth House . The historic Government-owned Pine Plantation House on Pine Road, St Michael, has been leased to the Commonwealth Society Barbados for restoration and renewal. Once completed, the site will serve as a vibrant hub for Commonwealth activity, dialogue, and collaboration in Barbados,