The Royal Commonwealth Society

On 26 June 1868, a group of individuals in London established a ‘literary and scientific body’ dedicated to the greater understanding of what were then British colonies. A year later it was granted a Royal Charter from Queen Victoria, elevating it to the level of other Royal Societies. The Society became increasingly progressive in the early decades of the twentieth century, encouraging a young and diverse membership. It was given its present name, The Royal Commonwealth Society, in 1958.

The Commonwealth of Nations

The British Commonwealth of Nations was founded in 1931 as an outgrowth of the British Empire. In 1949 the organization reorganized to allow independent nations be be members. The name was changed to Commonwealth of Nations and the British crown was recognized as a symbol of the free association of its members.

The Commonwealth currently has 53 member states, all working together to promote democracy and good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, as well as sustainable environmental, economic and social development. Approximately 2.2 billion people, or 30% of the world’s population belong to member states and over half are young people aged 25 or under.

• Royal Commonwealth Society – England/Wales
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Bath
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Cambridge University
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Canterbury, NZ
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Cyprus
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Canada
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Ottawa, CA
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Edmonton
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Auckland
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Australian Capital Territory
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Western Australia
• Royal Commonwealth Society – South Australia
• Royal Commonwealth Society – Hong Kong

Affiliated Sites

• The Commonwealth
• The Britain-Australia Society
• The Britain-Australia Society West Country Branch
• English-Speaking Union
• Commonwealth Countries League Education Fund
• The Commonwealth Education Hub