The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has announced King Charles as its royal patron.
King Charles succeeds his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, who was the cardiovascular charity’s royal patron for six decades, from 1961 until his death in 2021.
BHF said the king’s acceptance of the role as patron is a “continuation of a longstanding and cherished relationship” between it and the royal family.
It comes after the royal family relinquished patronages at hundreds of charities and organisations earlier this month.
‘Tremendously proud’
BHF chief executive Charmaine Griffiths said: “His majesty’s appointment not only reaffirms our shared commitment to improving cardiovascular health for all, but it pays tribute to the enduring legacy of his father Prince Philip’s service to the BHF, honouring his incredible 60 years as our patron.
“I’m tremendously proud to have his majesty’s support as the BHF looks ahead to the next chapter – tackling heart health inequalities, getting heart disease at the top of the political agenda, funding lifesaving research, and saving more lives than ever before.”
During his 60 years as patron, Prince Philip helped to “shine a light” on the need to fund research into heart and circulatory diseases, BHF said.
His advocacy led to the establishment of nine funded centres of excellence in the 1970s as well as a medical research centre at the University of Edinburgh in 2010.
BHF recorded an income of £381m and expenditure of £370m in the year to March 2023, according to its most recently filed accounts, employing 4,191 staff.
Last month, King Charles succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II in taking up her patronage of Cancer Research UK.
