Royal Over-Seas League

The Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) is a not-for-profit institution founded in 1910, dedicated to promoting international friendship pursuant to its royal charter, an ethos which binds its global membership.

ROSL has a Grade I listed clubhouse in the heart of St James's, London, and a programme of events including a public affairs series which focusses on geopolitical issues, concerts, art exhibitions, and fine food and wine occasions.

The extensive heritage Clubhouse includes a dining room, over 80 bedrooms, events spaces and a beautiful garden overlooking Green Park where members enjoy al fresco dining in the summer.

ROSL promotes young musicians and artists, through a widespread arts programme including ROSL's Annual Music Competition which is over 70 years old.

The ROSL Foundation, its associated charity, supports music, arts and heritage.

Leadership
ROSL’s Patron is King Charles III. Vice-Patron HRH Princess Alexandra KG GCVO, the President is The Rt Hon The Lord Geidt GCB GCVO OBE QSO PC, the Director General since 2020 is Dr Annette Prandzioch, and its Chairman, Helen Prince.

Facilities and activities
The clubhouse has 83 bedrooms, many with views across the Royal Park or across the skyline of Westminster. Members and their guests enjoy a varied choice of dining, from relaxed and informal in the Duke of York Bar and Garden, through to afternoon tea in the Drawing Room, to fine dining menus and wines served in the 1910 Dining Room.

The art deco dining room was refurbished in 2022. It has a chef team and collaborations with celebrity chefs Irini Tzortzoglou and Cyrus Todiwala.

Members and commercial event planners are welcome to host both corporate and private events and celebrations within any of the nine event spaces. Six Park Place is the ROSL commercial venue.

The league publishes a quarterly journal called Overseas, which comprises contemporary features written by renowned journalists, members' articles and information about forthcoming events and the arts programme.

Membership allows access to various events, including the Public Affairs Series, which is an introduction of intellectual content, discussing geopolitical issues with keynote speakers. Recent speakers include Robert Hardman, Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Sir John Sawers, Lord Andrew Roberts, Lord Frost, Baroness Catherine Ashton, and Lord Robertson.

ROSL enjoys connections with talented classical music performers such as Joseph Cajella.

Membership
The ROSL has 11,000 members worldwide. Membership fees are based on proximity to the London clubhouse, or age (under 30s enjoy a reduced rate of membership). To become part of the organisation requires a proposer.

Annual Music competition
ROSL organises a worldwide annual competition for musicians aged under 30. There are two ensemble awards and four solo awards; solo winners then compete for the competition gold medal and first prize. The competition celebrates over 70 years of success in supporting and promoting young talented musicians, past winners include; Jacqueline du Pré, Melvyn Tan, Piers Lane, Juliette Bausor and Jonathan Lemalu.

ROSL offers many performance opportunities to prize-winners after the competition at major venues such as Wigmore Hall. The organisation has established relationships with many UK festivals and promoters including Brighton, Buxton, Cambridge Summer Music, and North Norfolk.

ROSL’s award-winning series of chamber music concerts in Edinburgh is a fixture of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

These programmes offer this group of young extraordinary talent an artistic “home” with experienced mentorship and advice, networking, promotional support and concert opportunities around the world.

ROSL Foundation
The ROSL Foundation (Charity no. 306095) was established on 1 January 1960 to mark the ROSL’s Golden Jubilee and to extend ROSL’s work of ‘furthering and encouraging good relations, friendship, mutual knowledge and understanding amongst the peoples of the Commonwealth’.

By the 1990’s the focus was on support for ROSL Annual Music Competition. This was partly due to the accumulation of generous legacies since the 1960’s which, at the donor’s request, had been restricted to music awards and, later, the fact that the ROSL Centenary Appeal in 2010 was also restricted to support for ROSL ARTS music. Today, the ROSL Foundation continues to support ROSL's arts programme and the stewardship of ROSL's Grade-I listed heritage clubhouse.

Alexander Downer is the Chairman of Trustees.