Write a story and win a full trip to London. Choose fun topics about books, travel, plants or learning. Keep reading to see how to enter and what to win.
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025 is now open.
This contest invites entries from all Commonwealth countries.
The theme is Our Commonwealth Journey.
Journeys help people learn and grow.
The Commonwealth also has a long story.
It began in 1949 and now has 56 countries.
It covers five continents and a third of the world’s oceans.
It includes 2.7 billion people.
You are asked to write about journeys.
These can be about places, time or people.
You can write about what the Commonwealth has done or may do next.
There are two entry groups.
Each group has its own age and word limits.
Each group has four topics to choose from.
This group is for those born between 23 May 2006 and 23 May 2011.
Your story must be no more than 1,500 words.
Choose one of these four topics:
- Picture a Commonwealth where all people get the same chance at school.
- Tell a famous folklore from your country or another in a new way.
- Write about a time a book took you on a journey and how it changed you.
- Tell the life story of a plant that grows in the centre of your town or village.
Enter the Junior Category
This group is for those born on or after 23 May 2011.
Your story must be no more than 750 words.
Choose one of these four topics:
- Write about a time you learned something new about a Commonwealth country.
- Tell a sea trip story from one country to a small island nation. What do you see and who do you meet?
- You find a secret door into your best-loved book. What happens inside?
- Imagine animals from different countries gather for a big meeting. What do they say?
Win a Free Trip to London
Two winners from each group will get a full trip to London.
The trip will last one week.
It will include fun and learning.
It will end with a big event in a Royal Palace.
Writers who do well will get a Certificate of Participation.
Some will also get Gold, Silver or Bronze Awards.
Check If You Can Join
You must live in a Commonwealth country or territory.
People in Hong Kong, Ireland and Zimbabwe can also enter.
Apply Before the Deadline
The closing date is 23 May 2025.
To enter, go to the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition application page.
More details are on the official Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition website.
Send in your best story before the deadline.
This could be the start of something great.