Ready to be inspired? The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) has just announced the winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) 2025, and the results are nothing short of phenomenal! This competition, the world's oldest international writing contest for schools, saw a record-breaking number of entries this year.
This year's competition achieved a historic milestone, with a staggering 53,434 submissions pouring in from across the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth. That's a whopping 53% increase from the previous year! The participation was truly global, with strong showings from countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Malaysia, and India, among others.
A distinguished panel of judges, including Sir Ben Okri OBE and Imtiaz Dharker, had the tough job of selecting the winners.
Here are some of the judges:
- Sir Ben Okri OBE, Booker Prize-winning novelist and poet
- Imtiaz Dharker, Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry recipient
- Victoria Hislop, author of The Island
- Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily and The King’s Mother
- Chetna Makan, cookbook author and former Great British Bake Off contestant
- Caroline Haines CC, educator and City of London Education Board
- Ntsika Kota, Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner
- Portia Subran, Trinidadian writer and visual artist
- Maria Samuela, Cook Islands author based in New Zealand
- Dr Paul Edmondson, Head of Research, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
- Joanne C. Hillhouse, founder of the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize
And now, the moment you've been waiting for... the winners!
Senior Winner: Kaira Puri (17), from Gurugram, Haryana, India. Kaira explores the intersection of mathematics and economics, using writing to explore complex questions. Her short film, Banking on Her, highlights women navigating financial challenges. She's also a dedicated football player, demonstrating teamwork and resilience.
Junior Winner: Vivaan Agarwal (14), from Mumbai, India. Vivaan is a passionate advocate for communal harmony and sustainability. He's a skilled debater and podcaster, using his voice to inspire change. He represented India at Harvard, showcasing his powerful rhetoric.
Senior Runner-up: Pandora Onyedire (17), from Lagos, Nigeria. Pandora uses storytelling and performance to explore identity and social change. Her work often blends cultural introspection with global consciousness. She is involved in performing arts and youth leadership.
Junior Runner-up: Lakshmi Manognya Achanta (14), from Singapore. Lakshmi expresses herself through poetry, inspired by the world around her. She also enjoys reading, songwriting, and playing the piano. She hopes to write novels celebrating Asian heritage.
The Royal Commonwealth Society extends its gratitude to all participants, judges, and supporters. Their commitment has helped the competition reach new heights, inspiring young writers worldwide.
What do you think? Are you inspired by these young writers? Do you agree with the judges' choices? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
