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The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023

We are delighted to share that the 2023 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is open to entries for writers aged under 18, who are nationals or residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories, as well as residents of Hong Kong, Ireland, and Zimbabwe.

The competition asks entrants to explore the power young people hold within the global community and consider how this power can be harnessed to make a meaningful impact in the world.

• Top prize : the top two winners from each category will be awarded with a trip to London for a week of educational and cultural events, culminating in a special awards ceremony at a royal palace.
• Awards : All successful entries will receive a certificate of participation and a number of entrants will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for excellence in writing.

For full details, please refer here .

Enquiries about submissions should be directed to the Royal Commonwealth Society, please always refer to their website for complete details and information. 

Please note, this prize is run by the Royal Commonwealth Society, not the Commonwealth Foundation.

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Winners Of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023 Announced!

2023 has been a fantastic year for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC).

Celebrating the Commonwealth Year of Youth, the theme, 'A Youth-Powered Commonwealth,’ asked QCEC entrants to explore the power young people hold within the global community and to consider how this power can be harnessed to make a meaningful impact in the world.

In the 140th year of this competition, the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools, we were delighted to receive a record-breaking 34,924 entries , an increase of almost 9,000 entries on the previous year, and from 50 Commonwealth countries, the most in the history of the competition!

This year’s top participating countries included Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

In this special year, we are delighted to announce the winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition:

• Senior Winner: Miss Siddhi Deshmukh aged 17 from Mumbai, India for her piece titled, ‘An Angel that Burns’.
• Junior Winner: Miss Shreeya Sahi aged 12 from Panchkula, India for her entry titled, ‘Dear Little Prince’.
• Senior Runner-up: Miss Yong Sin Kong aged 15 from Kluang, Malaysia for her entry titled, ‘Observations made at a Local Kopitam, 13th of March, 2023’.
• Junior Runner-up: Miss Mitali Ragtah aged 11 from New Delhi, India for her piece titled, ‘Water Girl of India’.

We look forward to meeting these talented young writers in London next month for Winners Week and to celebrating their writing during a special Award Ceremony at Buckingham Palace hosted by Her Majesty Queen Camilla!

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Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 NOW-OPEN

The 2024 Queen’s Essay competition is now open. See below for entry details including submission links and for more information click through to the RCS London Website . This year the theme is ‘Our Common Wealth’ and the competition is sponsored by the Lagos State Government, Nigeria.

'Our Common Wealth'

The theme for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which will take place in Samoa in October 2024, is ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.    

Nearly half of Commonwealth countries are Small Island Developing States like Samoa that are disproportionately affected by climate change. Communities across the Commonwealth are also facing a range of challenges, including economic growth, peace and security. Creating strong and resilient societies is now more important than ever.   

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 asks entrants to consider how they deal with adversity, and how community and culture can be used to encourage resilience and hope in a world with a growing number of global issues.  

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 is now open for entries until 15 May 2024. Please use this link to submit your entries. 

SENIOR CATEGORY 

(Born between 16 May 2005 and 15 May 2010 (14-18 years of age)) 

"It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change."– Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. What small steps can you take to help tackle the climate crisis?   

Write a speech highlighting what you think is the most challenging issue facing the world today, and how Commonwealth values can be used to solve it.      

At the heart of Samoan way of life is ‘aiga’, meaning ‘family’ values including selflessness, hospitality, co-operation, respect and dignity. What core values and ideas from your culture can be used to enhance co-operation and community in the Commonwealth?  

The Commonwealth’s London Declaration aimed to strive for peace, liberty and progress. Write a letter to your President or Prime Minister about how to achieve those aims. 

JUNIOR CATEGORY 

(Born on or after 16 May 2010 (under 14 years of age))

What new habit could you adopt to positively contribute towards a greener Commonwealth?   

Write a dialogue between yourself and a grandparent about resilience and hope. What can you share with the older generation, and what can you learn from them?  

You are taking part in a beach clean-up and discover that you can speak to sea creatures. What are they saying, and how do you respond?

You’re on a school exchange in a Commonwealth country different to your own. How do you make friends with people your age? (Consider similarities and differences in culture that may unite you).

Download the QCEC 2024 Flyer

Queen’s Essay Competition, 2024

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Queen's commonwealth essay competition 2023 opens

The Royal Commonwealth Society yesterday announced that the prestigious Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition is now open for entries until 30 June 2023. The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world's oldest international writing competition.

With thousands of young people taking part every year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing.

This year, The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition asks entrants to explore the power young people hold within the global community and consider how this power can be harnessed to make a meaningful impact in the world, said a british High Commission statement. This focus coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government declaring 2023 a year dedicated to youth: led action for sustainable and inclusive development, it added.

Essays are submitted in two categories - a 'Senior Category' (those born between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2009) and a 'Junior Category' (those born on or after 1 July 2009). All successful entries will receive a Certificate of Participation and a number of entrants will receive Gold, Silver and bronze Awards for excellence in writing. The top two winners from each category will be awarded with a trip to london for a week of educational and cultural events, culminating in a special Awards Ceremony at a royal palace.

Pakistani youth have done extremely well in recent years with Zahra Hussain, a student of lahore Grammar School International, coming first in the senior category in 2018 and Zainab Nawaz, a grade 8 student, achieving a bronze Award in the junior category in 2022. Zoë Ware, Acting Deputy Head of Mission at the british High Commission, said: 'The Queen's Commonwealth Essay is a fantastic opportunity for young Pakistanis to engage with the Commonwealth and sharpen their writing skills to become the future leaders of tomorrow. Sixty percent of the Commonwealth's 2.5 billion people are under the age of 30.

This young demographic represents a dynamic 'youth force for change', made up of exceptional young people who are increasingly involved in advocacy, decision: making and action. I hope to see some winning essays from young Pakistanis in this year's competition.

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Queen’s commonwealth essay competition 2023 opens

ISLAMABAD        -     The Royal Commonwealth Society yesterday announced that the prestigious Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is now open for entries until 30 June 2023. The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition.

With thousands of young people taking part every year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing.

This year, The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition asks entrants to explore the power young people hold within the global community and consider how this power can be harnessed to make a meaningful impact in the world, said a british High Commission statement. This focus coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government declaring 2023 a year dedicated to youth-led action for sustainable and inclusive development, it added.

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Essays are submitted in two categories – a ‘Senior Category’ (those born between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2009) and a ‘Junior Category’ (those born on or after 1 July 2009). All successful entries will receive a Certificate of Participation and a number of entrants will receive Gold, Silver and bronze Awards for excellence in writing. The top two winners from each category will be awarded with a trip to london for a week of educational and cultural events, culminating in a special Awards Ceremony at a royal palace.

Pakistani youth have done extremely well in recent years with Zahra Hussain, a student of lahore Grammar School International, coming first in the senior category in 2018 and Zainab Nawaz, a grade 8 student, achieving a bronze Award in the junior category in 2022. Zoë Ware, Acting Deputy Head of Mission at the british High Commission, said: “The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay is a fantastic opportunity for young Pakistanis to engage with the Commonwealth and sharpen their writing skills to become the future leaders of tomorrow. Sixty percent of the Commonwealth’s 2.5 billion people are under the age of 30.

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This young demographic represents a dynamic ‘youth force for change’, made up of exceptional young people who are increasingly involved in advocacy, decision-making and action. I hope to see some winning essays from young Pakistanis in this year’s competition.

SHAFQAT ALI

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HIS MAJESTY THE KING ANNOUNCED AS PATRON

We are deeply honoured to announce His Majesty The King as Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society. 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. Read the release in full. 

The  Royal Commonwealth Society is a network of individuals and organisations committed to improving the lives and prospects of Commonwealth citizens across the world. Find out more about our vision and how we aim to achieve this. 

OUR VISION AND MISSION

OUR HISTORY 

Founded on 26 June 1868 as a ‘literary and scientific body’ the Society was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria a year later. Since our establishment the Society has welcomed speakers including Nelson Mandela and evolved to meet the changing nature of the Commonwealth. 

COMMONWEALTH VOICES

'Commonwealth Voices' is the Society's magazine containing observations on Commonwealth-wide news, developments and concerns, and includes high-profile guest contributions, research pieces and contemporary news. Read the latest edition.

Our diversity is our greatest strength

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NEWS AND BLOGS

QCEC 2024 ENTRY DEADLINE

15 MAY 2024 

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. In the past decade alone, the competition has engaged over 140,000 young people, 5,000 schools and 1,000 volunteer judges. The theme for 2024 is 'Our Common Wealth'. Enter by 15 May to share your thoughts on global issues. 

QCEC WINNERS WEEK 

11-15 NOVEMBER 2024 

One Winner and one Runner-up from the Senior and Junior categories of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 will win a trip to London to take part in Winners Week - a week of educational and cultural activities. This week will culminate in a special Awards Ceremony, normally held at Buckingham Palace and kindly hosted by Her Majesty The Queen. 

HIGH COMMISSIONERS' BANQUET

17 NOVEMBER 2024

The Society has been the custodian of this annual event, a highlight in the Commonwealth calendar, since it held its first ‘conversazione’ in 1874. The High Commissioners' Banquet provides an opportunity to bring together the Commonwealth’s London-based diplomatic representatives and UK and Commonwealth business and community leaders.