Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III, the queen, and other members of the royal family will relinquish patronages held at hundreds of charities and institutions.
In a recent statement, Buckingham Palace said it had undertaken a major review of more than 1,000 royal patronages and charity presidencies following the king’s accession in September 2022.
Their majesties will remain patrons of many of the charities and institutions they were affiliated with as prince of Wales and duchess of Cornwall.
They will also, alongside other royal family members, take on patronages of several organisations previously supported by the late queen.
Review of patronages
At the time of her death, Queen Elizabeth II was patron of 492 organisations. Of these, 376 are due to be retained by the king or other members of the royal family.
Of the 441 organisations affiliated with the king as prince of Wales, 367 have been retained by him or passed to other members of the royal family.
Buckingham Palace said that King Charles III will retain patronages that highlight causes supporting communities, conservation and culture among others.
These include the Commonwealth Forestry Association, Heritage Crafts Association, Wildlife Trusts and Youth United Foundation.
King Charles III will become patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and Royal Commonwealth Society.
Of the 100 organisations affiliated with the queen as duchess of Cornwall, 91 have been retained or taken on by other members of the royal family.
The queen will take on the patronage of the Royal Literary Fund and become patron of the Royal Academy of Dance and the Royal Voluntary Service and take on the presidency of the Sandringham branch of the Women’s Institute.
‘Royal patronage highlights the vital work of these organisations’
Buckingham Palace said: “Members of the royal family are proud to maintain close associations with more than 1,000 charities, military organisations, and professional and public service bodies, both in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.
“Many of the organisations are well known, while others may be smaller bodies working in a specialist area or on a local basis only.
“Royal patronage highlights the vital work of these organisations and allows their many achievements and valuable contributions to society to be more widely recognised and promoted.
“Among the more than 800 organisations retained by their majesties and Members of the royal family, the king continues his longstanding involvement with the Royal British Legion by becoming patron, a role Queen Elizabeth II held throughout her reign from her accession in 1952.”
Buckingham Palace said it will carry out another review to consider the patronages held throughout the 14 other commonwealth realms where King Charles III is head of state.
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