King’s Fellow Ana Tuiketei reflects on her time in the UK as part of our week-long celebrations of Commonwealth Day 2026.
Ana Tuiketei, King's Fellow
Ana Tuiketei is a King’s Fellow in the inaugural cohort of PhD candidates within the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme.
It is well known that Commonwealth Week (centred on Commonwealth Day, March 9, 2026) is an annual, week-long celebration across 56 member nations, promoting unity, diversity, and shared values through flag-raisings, cultural events and various activities. The Commonwealth Day theme this year was "Unlocking Opportunities Together for a Prosperous Commonwealth", emphasising the importance of people and communities - especially when a third of the world’s young people live in Commonwealth countries and more than 60% of the Commonwealth’s population is under 29.
For me, this year was special because I got to experience these celebrations in person in London and got the opportunity to meet 10 other KCFP cohort fellows from Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Mauritius and Fiji. I also got to meet His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla. We all met in London and together we attended various events with such excitement. The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) is an initiative inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, designed to support the development of research and academic capacity across Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
To summarise my week with one word it would be gratitude.
The Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration - Westminster Abbey
The service, hosted by the Royal Commonwealth Society, had us witness a programme that had Commonwealth citizens participate including the music, dance, readings and reflections. For me the reflections by four women speakers (including former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell) were powerful as they had a common message of hope, more equitable access, and collaboration within the Commonwealth. I also enjoyed singing the of hymns during the service - it was something about everyone singing in unison with the majestic sound of the 1937 organ playing that made me reflect and have a sense of shared experience with the other King’s Fellows in attendance.
Inspiration and impact
On Tuesday we were part of a webinar organised by the ACU Policy Team titled, “From Research to Resilience: Commonwealth Doctoral Research Shaping Climate and Health”. My colleagues and I addressed practical solutions for both decision makers and academics within SIDS to address the specific SIDS climate challenges including inequality, environmental resilience, and financial sustainability whilst promoting climate resilience.
That evening, we attended a reception hosted by the ACU at the Royal Society. The reception allowed us to network with supporters, funders, KCFP partners, and researchers to also explore other practical collaborative opportunities to build and grow the programme. It was an honour to have a tour at the Royal Society, the world’s oldest independent scientific institution, founded in 1660. I had goosebumps opening the Charter Book and seeing the handwritten signatures of Newtown, Darwin, Queen Victoria, and others that made a difference in science globally.
One week, three palaces, and the inspiration to do better
Throughout the week I visited three different palaces and felt moved and inspired at each of them.
St. James Palace: Commonwealth Day Reception
To meet His Majesty Charles III for the first time and to be introduced as a King’s Fellow to His Majesty was a proud moment for me because he was not only encouraging in my PhD pursuit, he was curious in how my research would impact SIDS and the Commonwealth as a whole and how it support long-term sustainable development. I also had the honour of meeting Her Majesty Queen Camilla and I sensed both their love for SIDS countries.
Palace of Westminster: All Party Parliamentary Group on the Commonwealth
On Wednesday the ACU co-hosted the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Commonwealth with Commonwealth of Learning. I presented at this event which outlined how education, skills and mobility can strengthen economic resilience across the Commonwealth. This event brought together Parliamentarians, High Commissioners, and Commonwealth stakeholders to explore the role of universities and tech-enabled learning in driving productivity, innovation, and inclusive growth.
This was also my first time visiting the House of Commons Chamber, House of Lords Chamber, Central Lobby, Westminster Hall, Royal Gallery, and to listen to the Commonwealth Day debate led by Adam Jogee MP.
Hampton Court Palace: SMI Roundtables and Exhibitions
It was great to be hosted by Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), founded by King Charles III where “hundreds of global CEOs, international delegations and innovators” with the goal of accelerating the transition to a sustainable global economy met in one location. SMI mandates are, the Terra Carta (nature, people, planet) and Astra Carta (care for infinite wonders of the World) and provide practical private sector trajectories that will last for generations to come. It was just mind-blowing seeing exhibitions, inventions, AI capabilities, and witnessing the global capacity to create mechanisms for sustainable development in the Commonwealth
As part of the day, the ACU co-hosted a roundtable with Octopus Energy on how we can better leverage private sector-academia-government collaboration to accelerate climate resilience solutions for SIDS. I found the setting to be beautiful, and the ceiling was so distracting as I was admiring the 500-year-old art.
Meeting HM King Charles III to end this memorable event was also a highlight as he was also interested in finding out how we were enjoying the various events of the week.
Co-supervisor check in
One of the great benefits of the week was the opportunity to meet my co-supervisor from my partner university SOAS University of London. The KCFP provides me with opportunity to collaborate and work with those I would not otherwise have access to. I met with my co-supervisor Prof. Tom Tanner in Brighton, and we were able to connect, discuss my PhD research and plan for 2026 whilst exploring the vibrant seaside city. I left the meeting feeling blessed to have great supervisors for my research.
More than a responsibility, more than a calling
I am grateful that through ACU supporting our research, the King’s Fellows from across Commonwealth SIDS can give value to a defenceless system. We can use the torch of education and mobility to shed a light into crucial issues. We are empowered to answer the call of “Leaving No one Behind” by addressing climate change inequities. That includes our future generations. I come back home to Fiji more inspired than when I left - Vinaka KCFP, Vinaka ACU!