Our Year in Review 2025
- Kate McNab
- 10 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Our Year in Review 2025
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 ambitions for the future. Looking ahead to 2026, we invite you to consider joining us as a Friend of the Society. It is through your continued support and our collective efforts that we can continue working towards a better world for all Commonwealth citizens.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025: 8 MARCH
To mark International Women’s Day 2025, the Royal Commonwealth Society convened a special event focused on the theme Accelerate Action. We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, whose long-standing commitment to advancing gender equality across the UK and the Commonwealth set a clear and purposeful tone for the discussions. Hosted by the Ismaili Council at the Ismaili Centre, the event underscored the importance of championing those working to promote equality. As Secretariat to the Commonwealth Youth Gender and Equality Network, the Society was proud to reflect on the vital role of leadership, collaboration and sustained action in delivering meaningful change across the Commonwealth.
COMMONWEALTH DAY SERVICE OF CELEBRATION: 10 MARCH 2025
In March, Their Majesties The King and Queen, joined by senior members of the Royal Family, attended our annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. The service marked the theme One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth, bringing to life stories of community strength and personal resilience from across the Commonwealth. The congregation included the Commonwealth Secretary-General, diplomatic representatives, members of the Commonwealth Community, more than 700 UK schoolchildren and Commonwealth Games athletes, reflecting the diverse and shared spirit of the Commonwealth.
KING’S BATON RELAY LAUNCH: 10 MARCH 2025
His Majesty The King launched the King’s Baton Relay for Glasgow 2026 at Buckingham Palace, passing the first baton to Sir Chris Hoy. The relay places a strong emphasis on sustainability and community engagement, with each of the Commonwealth nations receiving its own baton to celebrate local culture. In partnership with Commonwealth Sport, the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign will remove one million pieces of plastic from waterways during the course of the relay.
So far, more than 4,511 volunteers have come together to remove 405,166 pieces of plastic from waterways across all five regions of the Commonwealth. The Royal Commonwealth Society has worked in partnership with 21 environmental organisations to help deliver this significant environmental achievement.
THE QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH CANOPY: 11 MARCH 2025
His Majesty The King planted an Acer rubrum, October Glory, at Buckingham Palace to mark the completion of The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. The network of 115 forest conservation projects spanning the Commonwealth, which the Royal Commonwealth Society served as managing partner for, has safeguarded more than 12 million hectares of forests and botanical gardens, creating a lasting legacy in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.
WELCOMING OUR NEW CHAIR AND TRUSTEES: 1 JUNE 2025
One of the standout moments of the year was the appointment of Janet Cooper OBE as Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society. An experienced chair, lawyer and entrepreneur, Janet brings a remarkable track record of leadership across the public, private and voluntary sectors, and a lifelong commitment to equality and empowerment.
With Janet’s vision, and our new Trustees Ravi Suchak and Sianne Haldane, the RCS is well placed to continue its work across the Commonwealth at a time when it matters more than ever.
THE QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH ESSAY COMPETITION 2025: 20 NOVEMBER 2025
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition received a record 53,434 entries from 54 Commonwealth nations, with noteworthy participation from Ghana, Nigeria, Malaysia, the Maldives, Bangladesh, the UK, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. Senior winner Kaira Puri (India) and Junior Winner Vivaan Agarwal (India) were recognised for their creative and socially conscious work, with Pandora Onyedire (Nigeria) and Lakshmi Manognya Achanta (Singapore) named Senior and Junior Runners-up. The winners were celebrated at a special ceremony hosted by our Vice-Patron Her Majesty The Queen at St James's Palace, underscoring the competition’s enduring role in inspiring young writers to share their voices and perspectives on a global stage.
HIGH COMMISSIONERS’ BANQUET: 25 NOVEMBER 2025
The Royal Commonwealth Society, in partnership with the City of London Corporation and Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) hosted the 2025 High Commissioners’ Banquet at Mansion House, convening diplomats, civic leaders, supporters and business representatives from across the Commonwealth. Keynote speaker Kadeena Cox OBE spoke powerfully on the role of sport in empowering young people, while Janet Cooper OBE and CWEIC Chairman Lord Marland reflected on the Commonwealth’s shared potential to advance sustainable prosperity, equality and collaboration. The evening provided a valuable forum for strengthening connections and reaffirming a collective commitment to shared goals.
CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 9 DECEMBER 2025
The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Candlelit Christmas Concert at St James’s Piccadilly brought together High Commissioners, RCS Ambassadors, Trustees, supporters and volunteers for an evening of reflection and celebration. Performances by Aivale Cole, Braimah and Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, Clara Calleja and others filled the church with music and festive warmth, celebrating community and shared tradition. Hosted by RCS Ambassador Gyles Brandreth, and with festive readings from Ayesha Dharker and Geri Halliwell-Horner, it was an incredible success, raising funds for our work championing education, equality, and the environment around the Commonwealth.
ANOTHER FANTASTIC YEAR AHEAD
As we look ahead to the year to come, the Royal Commonwealth Society remains committed to building on these achievements and deepening our impact across the Commonwealth. With renewed energy and strong partnerships, we look forward to working together to create new opportunities, strengthen connections and continue shaping a resilient and inclusive future for all around the Commonwealth.
We invite you to find out more about how to get involved with the work we do at:
