Overview of the changes to our Royal Charter

RPS creset dark greenFollowing an 18 month-long process and a unanimous vote by our governing body, the Assembly, it was agreed that RPS should move to a structure that better supports its professional leadership activities and ambition. In September 2024 we shared draft proposals on RPS seeking to become a royal college, a charity, and create a wholly owned (limited) subsidiary for publishing activities.

Over the last few months these draft proposals have been further developed and finessed following a period of engagement and discussion with pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists (whether members or not) through a series of roadshow events across GB and online. The discussions and feedback we had during our roadshow events can be read in detail in our published Roadshow Report. The draft proposals have also undergone a rigorous legal process – and this will continue. We remain in discussion with the Privy Council Office (PCO) and charity regulators about the exact scope of the changes, and the PCO reserves the right to propose changes up until Royal Assent is granted.

If you have more questions about the changes, visit our page of Frequently Asked Questions.

Explore the changes to our Royal Charter and the details of the Special Resolution Vote

In the run-up to the SRV vote in March 2025, we published the proposed changes to the Royal Charter in a number of different formats. If you’d like line by line detail then have a look at the current Charter, proposed Charter and tracked changes version. We have also published a summary version, which includes a short description of the changes in each section of the Charter. Alternatively, there is a short guide to the proposed Charter changes, which explains the key changes and what they mean. You will also find here the details of the Special Resolution Vote. 

The Special Resolution Vote on Charter change and becoming the Royal College of Pharmacy

All full members (this refers to RPS members and Fellows able to use the MRPharmS and FRPharmS post nominal) took part in a ‘Special Resolution Vote’ (SRV) which comprised two elements (i) the proposed amends to our Royal Charter and (ii) changing our name to the Royal College of Pharmacy. A single vote covered both elements of the resolution.

The wording of the SRV is published in full below and was agreed by Assembly on 20 November 2024. Members were asked to vote to either confirm or reject the following resolution:

In accordance with Article 11 of the Society’s Royal Charter, the Assembly resolves that it:

(i) amends the provisions of the Society’s Royal Charter to conform to the draft Charter presented to the meeting of Assembly on 20th November 2024; and  

(ii) changes the name of the Society to “ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHARMACY”;

subject to (a) confirmation of this resolution by the Members of the Society in accordance with the provisions of the current Royal Charter; (b) such changes as the Privy Council or its secretariat or advisors may require in agreement with the Assembly; and (c) the consent of His Majesty King Charles III by Order in Council.

Voting opened at 9am on Thursday, 13 March and closed at 5pm on Monday, 24 March 2025. The SRV was managed by Mi-Voice, who also run our elections, and they sent all eligible members individual voting instructions directly via email, SMS and if needed, also by post. 

Anyone wishing to take part in this historic vote to shape the future professional leadership body for pharmacy needed to be a full member by Friday, 28 February 2025.

The member vote is another step on this journey. Once voting closed at 5pm on Monday, 24 March, votes were counted and the results were published later that week. Following the successful vote, we are continuing to follow the necessary constitutional and legal processes as set out by the Privy Council and the charity regulators in England, Wales and Scotland.