Malaysian Teenagers Meet Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace

PETALING JAYA: Two Malaysian teenagers, Evangeline Khoo and Erynn Liew, who came up tops in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024, met Queen Camilla yesterday at Buckingham Palace.

Winners of the Competition

Evangeline Khoo, 15, and Erynn Liew, 13, were named the “Senior Winner” and “Junior Winner”, respectively. They were among the winners and runners-up who were hosted by Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace, where they received their certificates.

Congratulations from Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla congratulated the winners, saying, “There is just one word to describe you all but I might need some help from (King) Charles to get it right, you are utterly supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

Excerpts from Winning Pieces

An extract from Erynns winning piece, titled “The Indian Ocean Queen’s Troubles”, was read by English actress Tanya Reynolds, while an excerpt from Evangeline’s piece, “Ungrowing Growth”, was read by British journalist Clive Myrie.

Winners’ Week Activities

The Malaysians were in the UK from Nov 18 to 21, taking part in educational and cultural activities as part of the Winners’ Week before attending the awards ceremony at the palace. Joining them were Victor Kiyaga, 13, from Uganda, and Christabelle Yeo, 16, from Singapore, who clinched the “Junior Runner-up” and “Senior Runner-up” titles, respectively.

About the Competition

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is open to all Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and below. Participants write on a theme inspired by the Commonwealth’s values and principles. This year’s theme was “Our Common Wealth”, challenging participants on how community and culture can be used to foster resilience and hope in a world with increasing global issues.

Background of the Winners

In October, it was reported that Evangeline, from Kuala Lumpur, and Erynn, from Puchong, Selangor, won the competition organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society in the UK.

Conclusion

The meeting between Queen Camilla and the winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 is a testament to the importance of promoting literacy and creativity among young people. The competition has been running for over 90 years, and it is heartening to see that it continues to inspire young minds from around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition?
A: The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is an annual writing competition for schools, open to all Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and below.

Q: What is the theme of the competition?
A: The theme of the competition varies each year, but it is always inspired by the Commonwealth’s values and principles.

Q: How do participants enter the competition?
A: Participants submit their essays online or through their schools, and a panel of judges selects the winners.

Q: What are the prizes for the winners?
A: The winners receive a certificate and a trip to the UK to attend the awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace.