A Night of Commonwealth Unity, Leadership and Future Prosperity: The 2025 High Commissioners’ Banquet

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 nations for an evening of celebration, reflection and shared purpose.

The splendour of Mansion House, the Lady Mayor of London’s official residence, provided a fitting setting for a night dedicated to the values that bind the Commonwealth: community, leadership, collaboration, and opportunity.

Honouring Partnership: Our Commonwealth Superpower

Throughout the evening, one message resonated across every speech and conversation: partnership is the Commonwealth’s superpower.

Janet Cooper OBE, Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and Lord Marland, Chairman of CWEIC, highlighted the Commonwealth’s growing global influence, powered by shared language, shared values, and a deep commitment to education, equality, and sustainable prosperity. Their reflections underscored how collaboration between institutions, governments, businesses, and communities continues to unlock opportunities across our member nations.

Janet Cooper OBE, Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, addresses guests at the High Commissioners' Banquet 2025

This spirit of partnership is already delivering meaningful impact. Our work with Commonwealth Sport, including the King’s Baton Relay and the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, has mobilised nearly 5,000 volunteers across 28 nations to remove more than half a million pieces of plastic from our oceans, a remarkable testament to what we can achieve when we act together.

Celebrating Sport as a Catalyst for Change

Sport, its power to unite, inspire, and lead, was at the heart of this year’s Banquet. With many rising athletes attending ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the event highlighted the Commonwealth’s shared commitment to using sport as a driver of youth empowerment, leadership and community engagement.

Kadeena Cox OBE, Paralympian, addresses guests at the High Commissioners' Banquet 2025

We were privileged to hear from keynote speaker Kadeena Cox OBE, the record-breaking Paralympian whose journey of resilience and excellence captivated everyone present. Kadeena spoke movingly about her athletic career, the mentors and supporters who shaped her path, and her mission to give back through her charity, The KC Academy, which champions diversity in professional cycling and supports grassroots sport.

She also reflected on her involvement in the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, launched at Buckingham Palace as part of the King’s Baton Relay, and expressed her hope for continued progress and success as we look toward Glasgow 2026.

Leadership and Community at the Heart of the City of London

Alderman Vincent Keaveny CBE, serving as Lady Mayor Locum Tenens, addressed the room with a compelling message about the City of London’s long-standing commitment to the Commonwealth. He celebrated the City’s support for sporting access and youth development and reaffirmed its dedication to fostering strong ties with Commonwealth nations. His remarks echoed a theme felt throughout the evening: when the Commonwealth collaborates, our collective potential is limitless.

Looking Ahead to Glasgow 2026

With the Commonwealth Games on the horizon, excitement and optimism filled the room. The Banquet served not only as a celebration of our shared past and present, but as a launchpad for the partnerships, projects and friendships that will shape the Commonwealth’s future.

A Thank You to Our Commonwealth Family

The Royal Commonwealth Society is proud to host the High Commissioners’ Banquet each year, a signature black-tie gala that reflects the Society’s unique place within our global family. We extend our deepest thanks to the City of London Corporation for their generous hospitality at Mansion House, to CWEIC for their continued partnership, and to all diplomats, leaders, athletes, and supporters who joined us.

Together, we reaffirmed a simple truth: The Commonwealth is strongest when we move forward as one.

We look ahead with excitement to the journey toward Glasgow 2026 and to the continued work of building a more connected, inclusive, and prosperous Commonwealth for all.