140 years of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. 

 

To celebrate 140 years of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, the Society has curated a commemorative book which features a selection of the winning entries that celebrate the values of the Commonwealth. 

 

The collection of essays and featured interviews highlights the Royal Commonwealth Society’s longstanding commitment to the values of equality and inclusion, literacy, environment and connected communities.  

 

Many of the entries record incredible changes over the past 140 years. Others tell very personal stories, document life changing journeys across continents and highlight issues that impact communities across the Commonwealth. They collectively showcase the power of youth voices in drawing attention to the changes they wish to see in the world. 

 

Watch how the competition has impacted the lives of previous winners: