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Duchess of York Joins Prevent Breast Cancer as Patron

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Sarah, Duchess of York, launched a fundraising appeal for the National Breast Imaging Academy. Image credit: Prevent Breast Cancer
Sarah, Duchess of York, launched a fundraising appeal for the National Breast Imaging Academy. Image credit: Prevent Breast Cancer

Duchess of York Joins Prevent Breast Cancer as Patron

9th October 2024

Sarah, Duchess of York, is today announced as patron of the breast cancer charity Prevent Breast Cancer and vowed to do all she can to raise awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection.

Following her own experience of breast cancer in 2023, the Duchess has joined forces with the UK charity to help promote its work and fundraise for a new National Breast Imaging Academy.

She was introduced to the charity by a fellow panellist on ITV’s Loose Women, Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, who is also a patron. The pair discussed their personal experiences of breast cancer on the ITV show this summer, prompting Sally to introduce the Duchess to Prevent Breast Cancer.

Sarah, Duchess of York, and Sally Dynevor. Image credit: Prevent Breast Cancer
Sarah, Duchess of York, and Sally Dynevor.
Image credit: Prevent Breast Cancer

The charity today launches a public appeal as it aims to raise £600,000 to secure the future of the National Breast Imaging Academy in Manchester – which will train 50 new breast imaging specialists a year to benefit and strengthen breast services across the UK, as well as increasing screening capacity in Manchester by 13,000 appointments annually.

Commenting on her new patronage, Sarah, Duchess of York, said: “I know first-hand what it feels like to hear the words ‘breast cancer’ and learn that you are facing a life-changing diagnosis, course of treatment and recovery. It’s the news everyone dreads but I consider myself one of the lucky ones, because my cancer was caught early at a routine mammogram which meant that my prognosis was good.

“It’s thanks to my mammogram that I’m here today, so I can’t overstate how important it is that women go for their routine appointments whenever they are called up. It’s extremely worrying that a third of women are missing their screening at the moment. The fact is that the NHS screening programme is also under significant pressure from staffing shortfalls and the future of this programme could be at risk if we don’t act now to protect it. The National Breast Imaging Academy offers a solution: training new experts and increasing screening capacity to protect our national breast screening programme and save lives in the years ahead.”

The Academy is set to commence construction next month and will be located at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). Prevent Breast Cancer is jointly fundraising for its construction with Manchester NHS Foundation Trust Charity and together the two organisations have already secured over 80% of the costs required to build it. Now, they are asking the public for their support in fundraising the final £600,000.

Sarah, Duchess of York, meets apprentices Kate Schofield and Lisa Thomas. Image credit: Prevent Breast Cancer
Sarah, Duchess of York, meets apprentices Kate Schofield and Lisa Thomas.
Image credit: Prevent Breast Cancer

The Duchess added: “I’m delighted to be joining Prevent Breast Cancer as a patron, and even more so to be helping raise awareness of this incredible Academy which deserves all of our support. I urge people to help us reach our fundraising target – every penny counts and you will be helping to save the lives of countless women in the future.”

Breast cancer affects almost 57,000 women a year in the UK, making it the most common cancer in the country. Around a third of breast cancers are diagnosed through routine mammogram appointments and often these women have experienced no warning signs like lumps or breast changes.

Nikki Barraclough, chief executive of Prevent Breast Cancer, added: “Every day, over 155 women hear the news that they have breast cancer. Every single one of those women will have had a mammogram to confirm their cancer. If we don’t have enough experts then early cancers will be missed, women will have to wait longer for tests, and lives will be put at risk.

“The National Breast Imaging Academy is already providing support for trainees across the country but is currently unable to offer hands-on clinical training on a large scale.

“We are now raising funds for a permanent home for it in Manchester and we need your help to secure its future. This incredible facility will train 50 new experts every year who can go on to work all over the country, helping both the NHS breast screening programme and the thousands of women every year who find a lump and need an urgent mammogram.

“I am thrilled to have The Duchess on board as patron of Prevent Breast Cancer. Her own experiences mean that she knows as well as any of us the importance of our mission to create a future free from breast cancer, and I am sure that she will use her voice to help us reach more women around the world.

“Please join our campaign today and help us do more: more mammograms, more staff, more research, and ultimately more lives saved. Breast cancer doesn’t wait, and neither can we,” she added.

The Duchess joins a host of fellow patrons including Coronation Street’s Sue Cleaver, actress Victoria Ekanoye, and newsreader and host of The Krypton Factor, Gordon Burns, in supporting the charity. She is also a patron to numerous charities including the Teenage Cancer Trust, the British Heart Foundation and the Natasha Allergy Foundation, and has established her own charities including Sarah’s Trust.

The National Breast Imaging Academy training centre will be an extension of the esteemed Nightingale Centre at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. It will provide state-of-the-art facilities for hands-on clinical training and promote careers in breast imaging, as well as significantly increasing clinical capacity, providing the space and equipment to enable up to 13,000 additional patients to be seen each year. It will also supply much needed space for ground-breaking research into the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Visit preventbreastcancer.org.uk to find out more.

“We Are Not Amused” – Royal Household Uniforms Head to Auction

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Royal household uniforms of The Hon. Alexander Grantham Yorke (1847-1911), Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria Estimate £400-£600 (lot 390) Image credit: Dreweatts
Royal household uniforms of The Hon. Alexander Grantham Yorke (1847-1911), Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria Estimate £400-£600 (lot 390) Image credit: Dreweatts

“WE ARE NOT AMUSED!“

ROYAL HOUSEHOLD UNIFORMS OF THE HON. ALEXANDER GRANTHAM YORKE GROOM IN WAITING TO QUEEN VICTORIA WHO INSTIGATED THE FAMOUS RETORT FROM THE QUEEN “WE ARE NOT AMUSED” HEAD TO AUCTION

8th October 2024

Royal household uniforms of the Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria (1884-1901), who was the instigator of one of the most famous phrases in history: “We are not amused” are to be offered for auction in October. The Hon. Alexander Grantham Yorke (1847-1911), affectionately known as ‘Alick’, was also the Extra Groom in Waiting to King Edward VII (1901-1911). He entered Royal service as Equerry (an officer of the British royal household who assists members of the royal family), to Prince Leopold, the Duke of Albany (1853-1884), the eighth child and youngest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (1819-1861). ‘Alick’ would become Groom-in-Waiting to the Queen and to King Edward VII until his death in 1911.

The story behind the famous phrase “We are not amused” is that Alexander Yorke was attending one of the Queen’s dinner parties at Windsor Castle and at one point turned to his German neighbour and told him a slightly risqué story. The German burst into raucous laughter and clutched his sides in unrestrained appreciation. The Queen then asked to hear the story and after Yorke had reluctantly repeated it, she delivered her historic riposte: “We are not amused.”

The uniforms include his blue full dress coat with vibrant red facings and gold embroidery, as well as a blue undress coat with red facings and gold embroidery. A black Edwardian evening dress tailcoat features the royal ER VII buttons. Three cocked hats with varying loops and buttons, a braided sword knot, a pair of white breeches and a uniform trunk completes the group. It carries an estimate of £500-£800 (lot 388).

Royal household uniforms of The Hon. Alexander Grantham Yorke (1847-1911), Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria Estimate £500-£800 (lot 388) Image credit: Dreweatts
Royal household uniforms of The Hon. Alexander Grantham Yorke (1847-1911), Groom-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria Estimate £500-£800 (lot 388) Image credit: Dreweatts

A second set of his uniforms comprise a scarlet tunic with blue facings and gold embroidery, blue trousers with gold lace and a blue frock coat with mourning bands (see top image).  It also features a great coat, a cocked hat with gold embroidered loop, a crimson and gold dress sash, a dress waist belt and sling, a pair of brass spurs and two uniform trunks (one labelled for Manning & Co, London). The group lot carries an estimate of £400-£600 (lot 390).

The uniforms come directly from the descendants of the Yorke family, who resided at historic Gatewick house in Sussex, the contents of which will be offered in a sale titled Collecting Arcadia: The Collections from Gatewick and Trethill House at Dreweatts on October 16, 2024.

The historic manor house was purchased in 1953 by David Yorke (1919-1997) (a descendant of Alexander Grantham Yorke), following his marriage to Anne Mackail (1922-1984), the daughter of the celebrated writer Denis Mackail (1892-1971) and great-granddaughter of the renowned Pre-Raphaelite artist, Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898). David Yorke was a lawyer (a Justice of the Peace for Sussex), but in his spare time he was a passionate amateur architect (a skill that led him to become senior architectural adviser for the National Trust) and he set about transforming Gatewick from a modest home to a fine Georgian country house – all to his own designs.

As well as the uniforms, the family collection will encompass over 400 lots ranging from works by the Scottish artist Allan Ramsay (1713-1784), who was a painter to King George III and Michelangelo Maestri (d. 1812), (whose most admired works are based on motifs from antique frescos discovered in Pompeii and Herculaneum), to fine furniture, objects of vertu and jewellery collected by and descended from numerous members of the Yorke and Burne-Jones families.

All are illustrative of a combination of discerning architectural ambition, family lineage and enthusiastic 1950s antiquarian collecting, which created a thoroughly modern country house in the 18th century spirit. The sale is an exploration into one family’s collecting story, from entrance hall to the attics, each piece a part of the puzzle in the Yorke family’s quest for their arcadia.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Visit Malta

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The Earl and Countess of Wessex during the Big Jubilee Lunch with members of the local community seated at 'The Long Table' on The Long Walk, Windsor Castle, on day four of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, June 5, 2022.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex during the Big Jubilee Lunch with members of the local community seated at 'The Long Table' on The Long Walk, Windsor Castle, on day four of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, June 5, 2022.

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH VISIT MALTA

7th – 10th October 2024

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will visit Malta from Monday 7th to Thursday 10th October to mark the 60th anniversary of Malta’s independence and celebrate the country’s shared heritage and continuing collaboration with the UK.

Arriving in Valetta, Their Royal Highnesses will meet the President of the Republic of Malta, Myriam Spiteri Debono, and later Prime Minister Dr Robert Abela.

On the first day, the Duke and Duchess will visit sites dedicated to Malta’s role in the Second World War, including a new monument dedicated to submariners. Together with the Armed Forces of Malta, Their Royal Highnesses will commemorate lives lost during the conflict by laying a wreath and posy out at sea. At the Malta Maritime Museum, Their Royal Highnesses will have the opportunity to hear from Armed Forces personnel and members of the Maltese-UK Veterans’ Association.

Later that afternoon, His Royal Highness, as chairman, will join young people participating in The Duke of Edinburgh International Award to formally open the organisation’s new headquarters in Malta and to discuss the positive impact of the award founded by Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh.

The following day will continue to explore past connections between the UK and Malta, as Their Royal Highnesses have the opportunity to tour Villa Guardamangia where, as Princess Elizabeth, the late Queen lived with Prince Philip, the then Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, between 1949 and 1951.

Afterwards, at the National Library, Their Royal Highnesses will view artefacts which document Malta’s changing relationship with the UK, including a letter signed by Queen Elizabeth II inaugurating the first parliament in 1964. The Duke and Duchess will also attend an ecumenical service at the Anglican Pro-Cathedral, an institution of which Prince Philip was patron.

Later, the Duchess of Edinburgh will lay a posy in memory of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Her Royal Highness, who is committed to drawing attention to the issue of violence against women and girls around the world, will attend a discussion with members of Malta’s Police Force and Human Rights Directorate about supporting victims of human-trafficking and gender-based violence.

On the final evening, the Duke and Duchess will attend The King’s Birthday Reception, hosted by the British High Commissioner, where Their Royal Highnesses will meet young people from across the country working towards a positive future for Malta’s next generation.

This is the first royal visit to Malta since that of the Duke of Kent in November 2018.

New Royal Patron for Brighton & Hove Museums

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HRH The Duke of Gloucester © John Swannell
HRH The Duke of Gloucester © John Swannell

New Royal Patron for Brighton & Hove Museums announced

7th October 2024

Brighton & Hove Museums (B&HM) is pleased to announce that His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester has taken over as patron of the charity.

The previous patron was the former Prince of Wales but he stepped down when he became King in 2022. The Duke of Gloucester is the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin and a full-time working member of the Royal Family. He attends national and international events in support of The King and his duties as Head of State, as well as undertaking extensive public duties and engagements every year reflecting his own interests and charities.

The CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums, Hedley Swain and the Chair of the Trustees Michael Bedingfield met The Duke in the summer at Kensington Palace to make arrangements for a visit to Brighton & Hove in 2025.

CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums Hedley Swain said: “It was lovely to be informed by Buckingham Palace that The Duke would take on the role. We are thrilled he is giving our charity his support.

“The Duke has a background in heritage and architecture and is associated with several other charities in the sector. We look forward to welcoming him to the Royal Pavilion and our other venues.”

Brighton & Hove Museums is a registered charity that relies on donations, grants and admission to operate its five heritage venues which include the Royal Pavilion & Garden, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Preston Manor & Garden, Booth Museum of Natural History and Hove Museum of Creativity.

The Prince of Wales to Celebrate Young Creatives

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The Prince and Princess of Wales attending a pre-campaign launch event for the Shaping Us campaign at BAFTA, London, hosted by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The campaign is to raise awareness of the unique importance of early childhood. January 30, 2023.
The Prince and Princess of Wales attending a pre-campaign launch event for the Shaping Us campaign at BAFTA, London, hosted by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The campaign is to raise awareness of the unique importance of early childhood. January 30, 2023.

THE PRINCE OF WALES TO CELEBRATE YOUNG CREATIVES WITH BAFTA AND THE ROYAL AFRICAN SOCIETY

Wednesday 9th October 2024

The Prince of Wales, President of BAFTA, and Patron of The Royal African Society, will attend an event co-hosted by the two organisations to showcase the importance of supporting young people in the film, games and television industries.

The event at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly will see His Royal Highness meet with 2024 recipients of The Prince William BAFTA Bursary fund, as well as students from the National Film and TV School who have been supported by the Royal African Society.

Girlguiding Announces HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh as Patron

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Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh attends Trooping the Colour, June, 2023.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh attends Trooping the Colour, June, 2023.

Girlguiding Announces Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh as Patron

3rd October 2024

Girlguiding is honoured to announce that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh will continue the Royal patronage of the UK’s largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls. The Duchess’s patronage will continue the tradition of Royal support, following on from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who was Patron from 1953.

The Duchess, who has been President of Girlguiding since 2003, is passionate about supporting the charity in its mission of empowering girls to find their voice, inspiring them to discover the best in themselves and to make a positive difference in their community. Girlguiding empowers girls and boosts their confidence, with girls in guiding up to 23% more confident than the national average.

In her first official engagement as Patron, The Duchess will join over 100 Girlguiding members made up of Brownies, Guides and Rangers at a planned contact with the International Space Station and wider STEM event taking place on Saturday 5 October at Brooklands Museum, Weybridge.  

The Duchess will be presented with a special Patron badge at the event, and a celebration badge to mark the occasion will be available to Girlguiding’s young members and volunteers.

Like The late Queen, who was a Guide and Sea Ranger when Princess Elizabeth, The Duchess of Edinburgh has a long-standing association with the organisation starting early on in her life as a member of Brownies and she took over the role of President of the charity from Princess Margaret in 2003.

Tracy Foster, chief guide, Girlguiding said: “We are delighted and honoured to announce Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh as our new patron.

“For over 100 years Girlguiding has given girls space to be themselves, have fun and be heard. Empowering all girls to know they can do anything is as important now as it was then.

“Our vision is for an equal world where all girls can make a positive difference, be happy, safe and fulfil their potential. As a champion for gender equality and a passionate advocate for girls and women, The Duchess’s support is invaluable in helping us to make this a reality.”

Girlguiding advocate, Alwen, 14, said: “On behalf of girls in Girlguiding, we’re really happy to hear that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh has been announced as our new patron.

“We know from her time as President that she values the voice of girls and young women, and as a former Brownie, knows all too well the powerful impact Girlguiding has on us from an early age. The Duchess is a strong advocate of gender equality, which is hugely important for many Girlguiding members. We look forward to her continued support in this prestigious new role.” 

During her time as President, The Duchess has participated in charity events and visited girls in Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger units across the UK.

In 2020, during the pandemic The Duchess took part in Girlguiding and BBC Children in Need’s ‘Act Your Age’ challenge, baking 55 cheese and bacon scones to encourage fundraising efforts for the charities.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s daughter, Lady Louise Windsor also joined Girlguiding as a Brownie and later became a Guide. As a Guide, Lady Louise accompanied The Duchess to open Girlguiding’s headquarters on Buckingham Palace Road in 2016.

As a mark of respect and as a legacy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen’s Guide award, continues to be the highest award available in guiding, with thousands of girls and young women working to achieve the award every year since its introduction in 1946.

With over 300,000 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers, Girlguiding provides a safe and welcoming space for all girls aged 4-18 across the UK and virtually to come together to laugh, learn, explore and have adventures.

The Prince of Wales to Visit London’s Air Ambulance Charity

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The Prince of Wales, Patron of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, will visit the service to mark the end of the ‘Up Against Time’ fundraising appeal which raised a total of £16 million to fund two new H135 helicopters. Image date 2019.
The Prince of Wales, Patron of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, will visit the service to mark the end of the ‘Up Against Time’ fundraising appeal which raised a total of £16 million to fund two new H135 helicopters. Image date 2019.

THE PRINCE OF WALES TO VISIT THE LONDON’S AIR AMBULANCE CHARITY

Tuesday 1st October, 2024

The Prince of Wales, Patron of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, will visit the service to mark the end of the ‘Up Against Time’ fundraising appeal which raised a total of £16 million to fund two new H135 helicopters. To celebrate this milestone, His Royal Highness will firstly visit RAF Northolt to view the new helicopters and meet pilots and medical crew.

Following this, the Prince will join the first flight of the new aircraft from RAF Northolt to the Royal London Hospital where His Royal Highness will meet former patients of London’s Air Ambulance Charity and key supporters of the appeal.

Duke of Gloucester Visits Bio Capital’s Granville Ecopark

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The Bio Capital team give The Duke of Gloucester a tour of the site which is the largest facility of its kind in Northern Ireland. Image credit: Bio Capital
The Bio Capital team give The Duke of Gloucester a tour of the site which is the largest facility of its kind in Northern Ireland. Image credit: Bio Capital

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester visits Bio Capital’s Granville Ecopark site in Northern Ireland

23 September 2024

  • His Royal Highness takes tour of Granville Ecopark after it became the first company to inject renewable biomethane into the local gas network in NI
  • Bio Capital secures planning permission from Mid Ulster District Council to build a CO₂ recovery unit the site
  • CO₂ recovery unit improves a completely circular process at Granville site
  • The unit will reduce carbon emissions from the site by up to 9,000T per annum.

Bio Capital Group, the UK’s leading commercial energy from food waste producer, was delighted to welcome His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester GCVO for a tour of its Granville Ecopark (GECO) site in Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The royal visit comes as Granville Ecopark secures planning permission from Mid Ulster District Council to build a CO₂ recovery unit on site.

The Bio Capital team gave His Royal Highness a tour of the site which is the largest facility of its kind in Northern Ireland, producing biomethane by recycling biodegradable food waste from local Councils, the hospitality sector and food and drink processors.

During the tour The Duke inspected Northern Ireland’s first renewable biomethane gas to grid connection, which has the capability to export enough gas to decarbonise Dungannon’s entire annual gas consumption. Granville also has the capacity to produce 115,000 tonnes of biofertiliser for use on agricultural land.

His Royal Highness was shown the fuel station used to power Bio Capital’s vehicles with the biomethane created from the food waste and the CO₂ unit (under construction) creating a circular economy that additionally reduces costs and helps customers achieve their sustainability targets.

The Duke of Gloucester The Bio Capital team gave The Duke of Gloucester a tour of the site which is the largest facility of its kind in Northern Ireland. Image credit: Bio Capital
The Bio Capital team give The Duke of Gloucester a tour of the site which is the largest facility of its kind in Northern Ireland. Image credit: Bio Capital

CO₂ Recovery Unit Construction

After receiving planning permission from Mid Ulster District Council, work at the site commenced in August in preparation for delivery of the equipment later in autumn, with completion scheduled Q4 2024.

CO₂ recovery helps capture and reuse emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The new CO₂ unit will reduce the carbon emissions from the site by up to 9000T per annum creating a fully circular process.

The renewable CO₂ captured at GECO can be used for a broad range of industrial applications (industrial/technical CO₂) like greenhouses (for plant growth) and dry ice production or as an ingredient for the food and beverage industry (food-grade CO₂). Amidst a shortage of CO₂ supply globally, the new unit will create additional revenue streams for the company.

This will be the first of several renewable energy projects being undertaken in partnership with Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) across Bio-Capital’s portfolio, with other projects in England scheduled to be completed over the next 12 months.  

Bio Capital’s Chief Commercial Officer, Tom Hall said: “The Bio-Capital team were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness to Granville to view Northern Ireland’s most advanced AD site and see, first-hand, the circular economic model of AD in action.”  

Mr Hall added: “We are looking forward to achieving another first, through working with both global and local suppliers of equipment, enabling us to further contribute to the net-zero goal and complete the circular model at our plant at Granville. Anaerobic Digestion is a process that has been constantly evolving over the past century, and capturing and utilising the valuable CO₂ byproduct is just the latest advancement to improve the circularity of the process.”

Biomethane has a vital role to play in the UK’s future energy mix. It is a 100% renewable, low carbon alternative to natural gas or LNG that is bolstering the UK’s energy needs as global energy costs rise and temperatures drop. Biomethane releases some CO₂ when burned, but much less than fossil fuels. It’s considered carbon-neutral because it captures methane that would have otherwise escaped from decomposing food waste in landfills and repurposes it as energy.

As global energy costs continue to rise and unpredictable weather increases – resulting in extreme hot or cold spells – the case for increasing the UK’s biogas capability has never been stronger.

The King and Queen will Visit Australia and Samoa

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Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, hold koalas at Government House, November, 2012, in Adelaide, Australia.
Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, hold koalas at Government House, November, 2012, in Adelaide, Australia.

The King and Queen will Visit Australia and Samoa

10 September 2024

Their Majesties The King and Queen will undertake an Autumn Tour from Friday 18th – Saturday 26th October 2024. This will include a Royal Visit to Australia, State Visit to The Independent State of Samoa and attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024. 

The King’s visit to Australia will be His Majesty’s first to a Realm as Monarch, whilst the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa is the first The King will attend as Head of the Commonwealth. In both countries, Their Majesties’ engagements will focus on themes designed to celebrate the best of Australia and Samoa, as well as reflecting aspects of The King and Queen’s work.  

Australia 

In Australia, His Majesty, as Head of State, accompanied by Her Majesty The Queen, will visit Parliament House, in Canberra, where Their Majesties will be welcomed by the Prime Minister, Mr Anthony Albanese. His Majesty will address a reception attended by political and community leaders, and prominent Australians who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in a variety of fields, including health, arts, culture and sports. Their Majesties will pay their respects to the Fallen, laying a wreath at the Australian War Memorial and visiting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander memorial, ‘For Our Country’. The King and Queen will conduct a Fleet Review of the Royal Australian Navy, in Sydney Harbour. 

On the theme of sustainability, The King will visit CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, meeting firefighters and learning more about the centre’s work to combat the bush fires which devastate millions of hectares of Australian land each year. Their Majesties will tour the National Botanic Gardens, home to the largest living collection of Australian native plants in the world, where they will learn about Indigenous plant use. They will also hear from staff and volunteers about how climate change is affecting biodiversity.

The King, who has this year been receiving treatment for cancer, will meet Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, both Australians of the Year, and will hear about the work they do to help those affected by melanoma, one of Australia’s most common cancers. 

Meanwhile, Her Majesty’s programme will also reflect the themes of her wider work, including her passion for encouraging reading and literacy and her desire to raise awareness of domestic and family violence. At a library in Sydney, Her Majesty will meet children participating in a Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition workshop. In Canberra, The Queen will join a discussion on domestic and family violence, with some of those whose lives been affected by it, and experts who work in the field. Her Majesty will also meet representatives of GIVIT, a charity which matches donors with those in need, of which she is Patron.

Their Majesties will attend a community BBQ in Western Sydney, sampling a range of produce from across New South Wales, experiencing the cultural diversity of Australian communities and meeting local residents. The King will also meet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and groups to learn about their work in supporting local community and strengthening culture. 

Samoa

Their Majesties’ State Visit to Samoa will celebrate the warm bilateral relationship between the two countries, which has been further strengthened by Samoa’s hosting of CHOGM 2024. The King and Queen will receive a formal welcome to the country, in the form of an ‘Ava Fa’atupu ceremony, before meeting Samoans at an engagement to highlight aspects of Samoan traditions and culture. His Majesty will also spend time with young people and community and faith leaders. 

The King’s programme will, in addition, reflect the theme of sustainability and biodiversity, in support of one of the key themes of CHOGM – ‘A Resilient Environment’, and the meeting’s focus on oceans. His Majesty will visit both a mangrove forest and a National Park, witnessing the work which is carried out by local communities to restore and protect both these vital ecosystems. He will also plant a tree in Samoa’s Botanical Garden, marking the opening of a new area within the site, which will be called ‘The King’s Garden’. 

Meanwhile Her Majesty’s engagements will again focus on the wider themes of her work. The Queen will visit an aoga faifeau (traditional Samoan Pastor’s School) to see first-hand how pupils are taught to read and write. Her Majesty will also visit the Samoa Victim Support Group, an organisation which assists survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, where she will learn more about the services the group provides to those in crisis.

CHOGM 2024

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa will bring together delegations from 56 countries across Africa, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. The overall theme of this year’s meeting is: ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming Our Common Wealth’.

In His Majesty’s first Commonwealth Day message as Sovereign, in March 2023, The King said of the Commonwealth: ‘Its near-boundless potential as a force for good in the world demands our highest ambition; its sheer scale challenges us to unite and be bold.’ CHOGM 2024 will see some of that ambition and unity on display with an emphasis on resilience across 4 key areas – resilient societies and peoples, resilient democratic institutions, a resilient environment and resilient economies. 

As Head of the Commonwealth, The King, accompanied by The Queen, will attend the CHOGM Opening Ceremony and will host a Dinner for Commonwealth Heads of Government. The King will also host a Reception for New Heads of Government and will attend the CHOGM Business Forum to hear about progress on sustainable urbanisation and investment in solutions to tackle climate change. 

Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment is one of CHOGM’s key themes, and Her Majesty will attend a side event to the Women’s Forum on the subject of ‘Advocating for Women and Girls in the Commonwealth’, with a focus on eliminating violence against women and improving health.

King and Queen to Visit Scottish Parliament

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King Charles III takes his seat during a visit to address parliamentarians in the Senate Chamber, at Luxembourg Palace in Paris, on day two of the state visit to France. September 21, 2023.
King Charles III takes his seat during a visit to address parliamentarians in the Senate Chamber, at Luxembourg Palace in Paris, on day two of the state visit to France. September 21, 2023.

THE KING AND QUEEN WILL VISIT THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT TO MARK ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Saturday 28th September 2024

The King and Queen will attend a celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament. The King will address the Chamber before Their Majesties join a reception for local people nominated by MSPs for their extraordinary contribution to their communities.

The King, as Prince of Wales, attended the official opening of the Scottish Parliament with the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on 1st July 1999.

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