As we reflect on the past year, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters, volunteers, and partners for their unwavering commitment to our mission. This year has seen considerable progress across the Society’s four key areas: literacy, connected communities, the environment, and equality. None of this would have been possible without your invaluable support, and we are thrilled to share some of the year's key highlights with you.
Looking ahead to 2025, 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.
27 FEBRUARY: Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Commonwealth
On 27 February, the RCS co-hosted a 'Look Ahead to CHOGM' event with the APPG for the Commonwealth. Moderated by the Co-Chair of the APPG for the Commonwealth, The Lord Kamall, the panel featured the Executive Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), Dr Linda Yueh CBE, His Excellency Johnston Busingye, High Commissioner for Rwanda to the UK, Her Excellency Francella Strickland, High Commissioner for Samoa to the UK, and Dr Anne Gallagher AO, Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, for a discussion reflecting on Rwanda’s time as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office and Samoa’s aims as the next Chair-in-Office. Dr Yueh promoted the Society’s new Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign.
8 MARCH: International Women’s Day 2024
To mark International Women’s Day, the Society, as Secretariat to the Commonwealth Youth Gender & Equality Network (CYGEN), hosted a virtual roundtable featuring Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh; Elisabeth Bowes, Deputy High Commissioner for Australia to the UK; Dr Linda Yueh CBE, RCS Executive Chair; and CYGEN members from across the Commonwealth. The discussion focused on vital issues such as reproductive health rights and women in leadership. In 2025, we look forward to celebrating 10 years of this critical network.
11 MARCH: Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration 2024
In March, to celebrate Commonwealth Day, we were privileged to be joined by Her Majesty The Queen, Members of the Royal Family, UK and Commonwealth dignitaries, diplomatic representatives, members of the Commonwealth community, and UK school children at Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration. His Majesty The King’s Commonwealth Day Message, viewed during the Service, emphasised the Commonwealth’s people, energy, and ideas, and the links that connect them.
The theme of resilience was evident throughout the Service's reflections, performances, and readings, which represented the different regions and faiths of the Commonwealth. A specially commissioned poem titled Transcending History by celebrated author and poet Sir Ben Okri OBE also reflected on the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth.
4 MAY: His Majesty The King announced as Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society
In May, we were deeply honoured to welcome His Majesty The King, Head of the Commonwealth, as Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society. Commenting on the appointment, Dr Linda Yueh CBE, RCS Executive Chair, said:
“We are deeply honoured to have His Majesty The King as Patron. With his long record of support for the Commonwealth and as a champion of the environment, he embodies the values to which the Royal Commonwealth Society aspires, and which inspires our work to make a practical difference in the lives of the 2.6 billion people who make up the Commonwealth family.”
18 JUNE: Her Majesty The Queen announced as Vice-Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society
In June, we were delighted to announce Her Majesty The Queen as Vice-Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society. This appointment continues Her Majesty’s longstanding relationship with the Royal Commonwealth Society as Vice-Patron since 2018 and through her patronage of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) since 2014, marking ten years of support.
As a champion of literacy, Queen Camilla has actively supported the competition, hosting an Award Ceremony at Buckingham Palace each year for the winners, and promoting the competition on her travels throughout the Commonwealth.
17-18 JULY: Write Around the World workshop in Maun, Botswana
In July, we hosted a transformative Write Around the World workshop in Maun, Botswana, advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by empowering young leaders. Over 70 children from seven schools took part in a creative writing workshop led by our Regional Coordinator for Africa, Nikita Nkese-Okon.
Additionally, RCS Associate Fellows from across the region participated in a training programme enabling them to extend the reach of Write Around the World and The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition to less advanced, remote, and rural communities across the Commonwealth. In a Commonwealth Voices blog, RCS Associate Fellow Kingsley Sintim from Nigeria reflects on the experience and his commitment to promoting literacy in his community.
17 SEPTEMBER: Diplomatic preview of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Campaign 🌊🌍
In September, we gave an exclusive preview of our Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign. The event held at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall brought together leaders from the Commonwealth diplomatic community, government, and our brilliant Associate Fellow Network to tackle plastic pollution. At the event, former Secretary of State for Trade and Defence, and the author of The Coming Storm: Why Water Will Write the 21st Century, Dr Liam Fox and RCS Executive Chair Dr Linda Yueh CBE gave powerful talks on reducing plastic waste and reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
22 OCTOBER: The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition in Sydney, Australia
As part of Their Majesties’ Autumn Tour, we were delighted to welcome Her Majesty to Green Square Library in Sydney, where she met with local book clubs, Australian authors, schoolchildren, and awardees of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC). RCS Associate Fellow Shelley Addison-Bell introduced the local award winners to Her Majesty and spoke about the impact and aspirations for the QCEC. We are certain that Her Majesty’s visit will inspire many more young people from the Pacific to participate in the competition!
26 OCTOBER: Launch of the RCS Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign in Samoa during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
During CHOGM, we proudly launched the RCS Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation. We are honoured that our Patron, His Majesty The King, drew attention to this ambitious pan-Commonwealth campaign at CHOGM, highlighting his long-standing commitment to the environment.
This campaign will prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways. Through local action and education, this youth-led campaign will encourage everyone to reduce their plastic waste, highlight alternatives, and seek to permanently change the way we utilise our collective waterways across the Commonwealth.
The launch of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign at CHOGM was also supported by UK Foreign Secretary The Rt Hon David Lammy MP, who gave remarks at the launch held at the Ulalei Vaiala, Taula Stadium in Apia, Samoa.
21 NOVEMBER: Her Majesty The Queen Hosts an Award Ceremony for the winners and runners-up of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024
This year’s ceremony was incredibly special, marking a decade since Her Majesty first began hosting the annual award ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Over the last decade, and with Her Majesty's support, annual participation in the QCEC has increased from 9,282 entries in 2014 to a record-breaking 34,939 entries from all Commonwealth regions this year and 54 out of 56 Commonwealth nations. Over 5,000 schools from across the Commonwealth have also participated in the last ten years.
The 2024 theme was Our Common Wealth, with the winners and runners-up hailing from Malaysia, Singapore and Uganda. During the ceremony extracts of the winning pieces were read by Clive Myrie, Tanya Reynolds, Toby Stephens, and Richard Ayoade. Read more about the ceremony, view the photo gallery, and learn more about the QCEC 2024 winners and runners-up.
We deeply grateful to the Lagos State Government for their invaluable support as the principal sponsor of this special competition.
27 NOVEMBER: High Commissioners’ Banquet
As the year came to a close, we were pleased to gather the Commonwealth community for the High Commissioners’ Banquet. Jointly delivered by the Society and the City of London Corporation, and in association with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, this high-profile event celebrated the strength of the Commonwealth family.
The 2024 Banquet marked 150 years of this unique gathering and focused on the critical role of youth leadership in shaping the future of our Commonwealth. Keynote speeches were delivered by Nahjae Nunes, Chair of the Commonwealth Youth International Taskforce for CHOGM, and Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Africa, UN & Commonwealth).
"The Commonwealth remains a beacon of possibility, where diversity is not a weakness but a strength." Nahjae Nunes.
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