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,

Ocean Conservation Namibia and the Commonwealth Games Association of Namibia ran a series of environmental events around Namibia across the end of September 2025. On the 25 th  September, the Baton travelled across Walvis Bay and Swakopmund with a day of activities, involving more than 2,000 volunteers from schools, sports clubs, local communities, and members of the Commonwealth Games Association of Namibia. The major theme was ocean, community and environmental stewardship,

Since 1885, the Royal Commonwealth has welcomed some of the most influential figures in the history of the Commonwealth. Its clubhouse on Northumberland Avenue became a key stop for politicians and activists visiting London, offering opportunities to sway members through speeches and social gatherings. In this edition of From the Archives , the dedicated team curating the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Archive at Cambridge University Library uncovers some of the club’s most fas

Gabon recently hosted a coastal-clean up on the 11 th October event as part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, an initiative championed by the Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with Commonwealth Sport. This clean-up was timed to coincide with the King’s Baton Relay, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, a reimagined environmental relay that weaves through Commonwealth nations, combining celebration of sport with sustainability. Gabon’s event wa

In a display of community spirit and environmental responsibility, volunteers in Lesotho gathered along the banks of the Mohokare (Caledon) River for a major clean-up event held as part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign on the 6 October 2025. The initiative brought local organisations, youth groups, sports representatives, and environmental advocates together in a collective effort to tackle plastic pollution and preserve one of the country’s most vital water

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

Enlighten VR is a virtual reality learning platform designed to upgrade education through immersive experiences. I created this platform to bridge the gap between traditional learning and emerging technology, giving students and educators the chance to interact with their subjects in 3D virtual environments, rather than just reading from flat textbooks. 

8 September 2025, Mauritius’s contribution to the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics 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 Morne shoreline. 

Have you heard of plogging? If not, why not! Originating in Sweden around 2016, the term ‘plogging’ is a blend of the Swedish verb plocka (to pick up) and the English word jogging. This hobby, consisting of joggers cleaning up their communities mid-stride, perfectly encapsulates the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign’s partnership with Commonwealth Sport. Now, thanks to Mozambique, plogging has become part of the campaign. 

When I was crowned Junior Runner-up in The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024, I didn't know that I had unlocked thousands of...

From 3 to 8 October, Ghana proudly hosted the King’s Baton Relay, as part of a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and a celebration of sport and community. The Baton’s arrival marked a significant step in the countdown to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, reaffirming Ghana’s dedication to sustainability, community engagement, and cultural pride.   The official launch took place at Jubilee House in Accra, where the Chief of Staff received the Baton from Commonwe

Yesterday, my mom and I had the absolute pleasure of being part of the King’s Baton Relay Clean-up event in KwaZulu-Natal! I’m beyond proud that Save a Fishie was chosen as a Country Partner by the Royal Commonwealth Society for the clean-up segment of this iconic relay. It was a day that celebrated action, connection, and the power of communities coming together for our planet.

On Thursday, 28 August 2025, the banks of the Kafue River were the site of Zambia’s contribution to the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Plastics Campaign. Organised by the Commonwealth Games Association of Zambia, the day of action included help from Kafue townspeople, Zambian athletes, and teachers and students from a local school. By the end of the day, more than 180 kilograms of plastic had been cleared from the riverbank, roughly 3,000 pieces.

Welcome to August 2025's edition of Commonwealth Voices, the Royal Commonwealth Society's newsletter.

Green Living Movement Eswatini proudly participated in the King’s Baton Relay 2026 for the upcoming Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Green Living Movement Eswatini, a charity that promotes sustainability and community, held a plastic clean-up event on the Mbabane River in the capital of Eswatini as part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign. Through their ongoing work in environmental education, green skills training, and community development, the organisation e

The Final Panel of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025 brings together an extraordinary assembly of literary luminaries,...

On 2 August 2025, the Commonwealth Games Association of Tanzania brought together volunteers, athletes, and community members for an inspiring clean-up event at Msasani Beach, one of Dar es Salaam’s most vibrant coastal areas. They were supported by Kinondoni Municipal, Msasani Ward and Msasani A Primary School.