Our journey to becoming a royal college

We became the Royal College of Pharmacy on 15 April 2026, following Royal Assent from the Privy Council and having received formal approval from both the Charity Commission and OSCR. This historic moment in our history was the culmination of more than three years’ extensive work by our leadership team and elected members, our colleagues and our members, and involved a huge number of people from across the whole pharmacy ecosystem.

Key milestones

Early 2023: An in-depth review of the organisation’s governance and constitution was commissioned and carried out over an 18 month-long review process

September 2024: Shared draft proposals for change, setting out the organisation’s ambition to become a royal college and a charity, and creating a wholly-owned (limited) subsidiary for publishing activities

Autumn 2024: Began ongoing dialogue with the Privy Council and charity regulators, and held a set of roadshows to outline and seek feedback on these proposals from pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists 

March 2025: Members voted in favour by way of a Special Resolution Vote, in support of the proposed changes to the Royal Charter, transitioning to become a royal college and the intention to register as a charity and create a wholly owned (limited) subsidiary for publishing activities 

Autumn 2025: Joe Irwin OBE appointed as the first Chair of the Board of Trustees

March 2026: Inaugural elections held for the future College, with Tase Oputu elected as its first President 

April 2026: Received formal approval from the Privy Council, Charity Commission and OSCR with Royal Assent for the Royal College of Pharmacy granted. Pharmaceutical Press also became a wholly owned (limited) subsidiary for publishing activities, which returns its profits to the College to support its charitable objectives. 

From the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to the Royal College of Pharmacy

Commissioning an independent review in 2023

Our historic journey of change began in early 2023, when we commissioned an independent review of our constitution and governance. This took place against a backdrop of a rapidly changing pharmacy landscape in the UK, with significant challenges being placed upon pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team in terms of delivering patient care. 

Based on this 18 month-long review process and following a unanimous decision from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s (RPS) governing body, the Assembly in March 2024 and again in July 2024, draft proposals for change were shared in September 2024. These proposals set out RPS’s ambition for pharmacy to take its place alongside other health and medical professional leadership bodies, and seek to become the Royal College of Pharmacy and a charity, and create a wholly owned (limited) subsidiary for its publishing activities. The proposed changed reflected the usual model for royal colleges and a modernised corporate structure, in order tobetter support its professional leadership activities and ambition.  

Discussing and engaging on our proposals

Through the autumn of 2024 RPS held a series of engagement roadshows across GB and online to talk at an early stage with pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists (whether members or not) about these proposed changes. The discussions and feedback had during these roadshows were published in a Roadshow Report and incorporated into ongoing development of the proposals. At the same time, RPS began a dialogue with the Privy Council, the Charity Commission and the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) about obtaining preliminary informal agreements on the legalities required for these draft proposed changes. Discussions with the Privy Council and charity regulators about the exact scope of the changes were ongoing throughout the following 18-month period, and subject to their rigorous legal processes. 

A historic member vote

In order to progress with these draft proposals, as a Royal Charter organisation, RPS needed to seek Charter change. The process for changing the Royal Charter is a Special Resolution Vote (SRV) of the membership, and two-thirds of votes needed to be in favour of the proposed changes for the SRV to pass. A total of 71% of RPS members voted in favour of these historic changes in March 2025, giving RPS a clear mandate to change its Royal Charter and continue with its ambition to transition to the Royal College of Pharmacy and intention to register as a charity, and create a wholly owned (limited) subsidiary for publishing activities. 

Developing a new shape and structure

Throughout the remainder of 2025 RPS continued its change journey, working hard behind the scenes on the required legal and financial changes as well as on developing the shape and structure of the new organisation. This included engaging with members and the wider pharmacy community on very early-stage discussions around College strategy, publishing a set of Commitments, and consulting with members on new Regulations. As well as key staff appointments, Joe Irwin OBE was appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Board of Trustees in late 2025. He led the shadow board with delegated powers to support the transition, before taking up his position as Chair in April 2026, when the College was formally created. 

In early 2026 inaugural elections were held for the future College’s three National Pharmacy Advisory Councils in England, Scotland and Wales. As a pivotal part of the College’s governance structure, nominations were opened to all Members and Fellows of RPS, offering an exciting and unique opportunity to shape the new organisation – particularly pharmacy policy and practice – in each nation and across GB. Following this, elected council members then voted in their Chair – Mahendra Patel in England, Catriona Sinclair in Scotland, and Liz Hallett in Wales who also all sit on the Senate and Board of Trustees. In March 2026, Tase Oputu was elected to become the inaugural President of the College, following a vote among all elected members of the three National Pharmacy Advisory Councils. 

Receiving formal approval to become the Royal College of Pharmacy

In April 2026, we received formal approval from the Privy Council, Charity Commission and OSCR and Royal Asset to become the Royal College of Pharmacy was granted on 10 March 2026. At the same time, Pharmaceutical Press also became a wholly owned (limited) subsidiary for publishing activities, which returns its profits to the College to support its charitable objectives.  

As the Royal College of Pharmacy we have begun a new chapter in our long and prestigious history, taking our place alongside other health and medical professional leadership bodies. As we look forward, the hard workreally begins, and together with our members and the wider pharmacy community we are committed to collaboratively shaping and voicing the future of pharmacy.