This year is a truly historic year for The Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition. First and foremost, thank you to everyone who entered this year's competition. We were thrilled to receive a record-breaking number of entries once again, demonstrating the incredible creativity, talent and enthusiasm of young writers from across the Commonwealth! At the start of the year, the competition underwent an exciting change to its structure and style. To encourage even wider partici

As the world marks International Youth Day 2026 under the theme 'Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,' I am reminded that although young people grow up in different environments, our dreams are remarkably similar. Every young person deserves quality education, dignity, opportunity and hope. I write as both a CYGEN member and a teacher. Growing up in rural Migori County, Kenya, I experienced financial barriers that nearly interrupted my education. Through bursaries, student

Growing up as a young person in Nigeria, I have come to understand that the experiences of young people may be different, but our dreams are often remarkably similar. We may live in different countries, speak different languages, come from different cultures, or face different social and economic realities, yet many of us share the same aspirations. We want access to quality education. We want opportunities to develop our talents. We want to be heard, respected, included, and

International Youth Day 2026 - 12 August Every young person deserves the opportunity to learn, contribute, and shape the future of their community. Although our backgrounds, cultures, and circumstances may differ, we share common aspirations: dignity, equality, quality education, meaningful work, good health, and the chance to make a positive difference. These shared aspirations remind us that diversity is not a barrier to progress—it is one of our greatest strengths. As a ph

Sustainable Markets Initiative, Commonwealth Sport and Royal Commonwealth Society at the Commonwealth Sustainable Events Breakfast Roundtable This morning, at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Royal Commonwealth Society joined forces with the Sustainable Markets Initiative and Commonwealth Sport to launch a new alliance aimed at making sporting events across the Commonwealth more sustainable. The alliance was announced at the Commonwealth Sustainable Events Breakfast R

One million pieces of plastic removed from Commonwealth waters. Read the story behind the milestone and the people who made it happen.

The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign has removed one million pieces of plastic from Commonwealth waterways, reaching its target in Glasgow ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Discover the two-year journey, from Samoa to Glasgow, and the volunteers and partners who made it possible.

By Itoro Victor-Akpan, Associate Fellow, Royal Commonwealth Society Sport and climate change are deeply interlinked, yet this relationship remains far less spoken about than other defining issues in climate negotiations and discussions; from loss and damage financing, fossil fuel phase-out, and nature-based solutions to climate finance, food systems, and the just transition. And yet sport, with its extraordinary global reach, its vulnerability to extreme weather, and its powe

Commonwealth Games Australia Clean-Up Earlier this year, as the King’s Baton Relay travelled through Australia, from Uluru to Sydney – it stopped off in Townsville, where Tangaroa Blue hosted a major clean-up event at Rowes Bay as part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Campaign. Against the backdrop of the Coral Sea, athletes, students, volunteers and local partners joined forces with a shared mission: preventing plastic pollution from entering Commonwealth waters. For more

The Royal Commonwealth Society convened the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Forum 2026 at the Ismaili Centre, bringing together scientists, lawyers and innovators to tackle plastic pollution across the Commonwealth.

Today marks a significant milestone for the Royal Commonwealth Society. One hundred and fifty-eight years ago, this organisation was founded on a belief in the power of the Commonwealth to improve lives and bring people together. That belief remains at the heart of everything we do, and it is what drives the Strategic Plan we are proud to share with you today. Building on real progress The past five years have been a period of real and measurable progress for the Royal Common

We are proud to announce the panel of judges for the Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026: Waves of Change, run by the Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the City of London Corporation's Youth Natural Environment Board. Waves of Change invites young people aged 18 to 30 from across the Commonwealth's 56 member nations to document the ocean and its relationship to communities, environments, and the future. Free to enter,

Last month, on 16th May, I had the opportunity to take part in a coastal clean-up at Spinola Bay in Malta, organised by Żibel as part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign. The event was part of the King's Baton Relay (KBR) in Malta, on its journey through Europe, making it feel we were contributing to something much bigger than a local beach clean. Storm Harry had swept past Malta around a month earlier. Although Żibel had already cleaned Spinola Bay as part of

The Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026: Waves of Change is now open for entries. Ran by the Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the City of London Corporation's Youth Natural Environment Board, the competition invites young photographers aged 18 to 30 from across the Commonwealth's 56 member nations to document the ocean and its relationship to communities, environments, and the future. Entry is free, and no prior phot

A community effort to protect one of Bermuda's most beloved nature reserves, joined by the Governor himself and forming part of a landmark Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign to collect one million pieces of plastic before the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Tucked into the eastern parishes of Bermuda, the Walsingham Nature Reserve is one of the island's most ecologically significant habitats, home to Tom Moore's Jungle, the iconic Blue Hole, and some of the last rem

The Enduring Impact of The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition My journey with The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition began in 2022 while I was a student at Aga Khan High School, Mombasa, Kenya. Encouraged by my English teacher to submit an essay, I entered the competition with enthusiasm and a deep love for writing, though I was still developing the technical precision and structure required for excellence. That year, I was honoured to receive a Bronze Award. In 2

Their Majesties The King and Queen, accompanied by The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey to celebrate Commonwealth Day on Monday, 9 March 2026.   Delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), the Commonwealth’s oldest dedicated charity, the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration is the flagship public

The Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey 2026 performance reveal.

The Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026 is now open to entrants!

Volunteer Judge meets RCS Vice-Patron Her Majesty The Queen during an award ceremony for the winners As we enter an exciting new chapter of the Royal Commonwealth Society’s flagship youth initiative, we are delighted to announce that applications to volunteer as a judge for The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition are now open! This year is a particularly exciting time to get involved with the competition. The change in name from The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competiti