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Prince William to Visit 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist, Colorifix

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Prince William with the 2023 Earthshot Prize winners (from left) S4S Technologies co-founder Nidhi Pant; S4S Technologies chief executive Vaibhav Tidke; Accion Andina president Constantino Aucca Chutas; Mr Florent Kaiser, CEO of Global Forest Generation, which is a co-founding organisation of Accion Andina; Boomitra CEO and founder Aadith Moorthy; WildAid marine programme director Emily Owen; WildAid chief operating officer Meaghan Brosnan; GRST CEO and co-founder Justin Hung; and GRST chief financial officer Frank Harley Singapore, 7 November 2023
Prince William with the 2023 Earthshot Prize winners (from left) S4S Technologies co-founder Nidhi Pant; S4S Technologies chief executive Vaibhav Tidke; Accion Andina president Constantino Aucca Chutas; Mr Florent Kaiser, CEO of Global Forest Generation, which is a co-founding organisation of Accion Andina; Boomitra CEO and founder Aadith Moorthy; WildAid marine programme director Emily Owen; WildAid chief operating officer Meaghan Brosnan; GRST CEO and co-founder Justin Hung; and GRST chief financial officer Frank Harley Singapore, 7 November 2023

PRINCE WILLIAM TO VISIT 2023 EARTHSHOT PRIZE FINALIST, COLORIFIX

Norwich

Thursday 19th June 2025

Prince William will visit Earthshot Prize Finalist Colorifix, a UK based company which creates sustainable dye for clothing. His Royal Highness will be joined on the visit by Earthshot Prize Council Member Cate Blanchett.

Colorifix was a 2023 Earthshot Prize finalist for the category ‘Build a Waste Free World’ and use DNA sequencing and nature’s own colours to create sustainable dyes that reduce the fashion industry’s use of water and harmful chemicals. Chemically synthesized dyes have a negative impact on the environment as they seep into rivers, harm wildlife and use vast amounts of water resources, with fabric dyeing consuming five trillion litres of water globally every year, the equivalent of two million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Garter Day at Windsor Castle

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the annual Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Monday June 19, 2023.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the annual Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Monday June 19, 2023.

GARTER DAY AT WINDSOR CASTLE

Monday 16th June 2025

A service for the Most Noble Order of the Garter will be held in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Monday 16th June 2025.

The King and Queen and members of the Royal Family will walk in procession to St George’s Chapel and after the service will depart in carriages.

The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain, established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago. The order includes the King, who is Sovereign of the Garter, the Queen, several members of the Royal Family, and up to 24 companions.

Companions of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.

Last year the Duchess of Gloucester was installed as a new Companion of the Order. Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach, the Right Honourable the Lord Kakkar and the Lord Lloyd-Webber were also invested as Companions of the Order in 2024.

The Speech from the Throne, delivered by His Majesty The King, to open the first session of the 45th Parliament of Canada

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France on September 20, 2023, on the first day of a state visit to France.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France on September 20, 2023, on the first day of a state visit to France.

The Speech from the Throne, delivered by His Majesty The King, to open the first session of the 45th Parliament of Canada

27 May 2025

Honourable Senators, Members of the House of Commons,

It is with a sense of deep pride and pleasure that my wife and I join you here today, as we witness Canadians coming together in a renewed sense of national pride, unity, and hope.

I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people. This land acknowledgement is a recognition of shared history as a nation. While continuing to deepen my own understanding, it is my great hope that in each of your communities, and collectively as a country, a path is found toward truth and reconciliation, in both word and deed.

This is my twentieth visit to Canada, spread over the course of more than half a century, and my first as Sovereign. As I have said before, “Every time I come to Canada… a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream – and from there straight to my heart.” I have always had the greatest admiration for Canada’s unique identity, which is recognized across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defence of national values, and for the diversity and kindness of Canadians.

To the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples – you have welcomed my family and myself to your traditional lands with great warmth and hospitality, for which I am humbly grateful.

This year, we mark the eightieth anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day. On Juno Beach, at Dieppe, on the Somme, at Beaumont-Hamel, at Ypres, and on Vimy Ridge… At those places, and many others, forever etched into our memories, Canadians fought and died alongside our closest allies.

Aujourd’hui, je vois des élus venant d’un bout à l’autre du Canada. De St. John’s, à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, de Victoria, en Colombie-Britannique, et d’Arviat, au Nunavut. Je vois des gardiens des droits et libertés garantis par la Charte canadienne. En tant que Roi, je tiens à vous remercier de vous mettre au service de vos compatriotes, d’un bout à l’autre de ce grand et beau pays.

[Today, I see representatives from every part of Canada – from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Victoria, British Columbia, and Arviat, Nunavut. I see the guardians of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Canadian Charter and, as King, I thank you for your service to your fellow Canadians, across the length and breadth of this vast and great nation.]

You speak for your communities, representing an incredible richness of cultures, languages, and perspectives. We owe it to this generation, and those who succeed us, to think and act for the greater good of all. While the world faces unprecedented challenges, generating uncertainties across the continents with regards to peace and stability, economics, and climate change, your communities have the skills and determination to bring a wealth of solutions.

En encourageant la collaboration et en tenant des débats respectueux et constructifs, vous permettrez à ce Gouvernement d’agir de façon audacieuse et juste, pour le bien des Canadiens et des Canadiennes.

[By fostering collaboration and engaging in respectful, constructive debates, you will ensure this Government is capable of bold and fair action to support Canadians.]

It has been nearly seventy years since the Sovereign first opened Parliament. In the time since, Canada has dramatically changed: repatriating its Constitution, achieving full independence, and witnessing immense growth. Canada has embraced its British, French, and Indigenous roots, and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural, and committed to reconciliation.

The Crown has for so long been a symbol of unity for Canada. It also represents stability and continuity from the past to the present. As it should, it stands proudly as a symbol of Canada today, in all her richness and dynamism.

When my dear late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, opened a new Canadian Parliament in 1957, the Second World War remained a fresh, painful memory. The Cold War was intensifying. Freedom and democracy were under threat. Canada was emerging as a growing economic power and a force for peace in the world. In the decades since, history has been punctuated by epoch-making events: the Vietnam War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the start of the War on Terror. Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect.

The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing. Canada’s relationships with partners are also changing.

Il nous faut confronter la réalité : depuis la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, notre monde n’a jamais été aussi dangereux et instable. Le Canada fait face à des défis qui, dans nos vies, sont sans précédent.

[We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War. Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.]

Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. Fundamental change is always unsettling. Yet this moment is also an incredible opportunity. An opportunity for renewal. An opportunity to think big and to act bigger. An opportunity for Canada to embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War. A confident Canada, which has welcomed new Canadians, including from some of the most tragic global conflict zones, can seize this opportunity by recognising that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away. And that by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians.

The Prime Minister and the President of the United States, for example, have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the United States, rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests, to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.

Simultanément, le Gouvernement œuvre à renforcer ses relations avec des partenaires commerciaux et des alliés fiables. Sachant que le Canada possède ce dont notre monde a besoin et défend les valeurs que ce monde respecte.

Le Canada est prêt à bâtir une coalition de nations qui partagent ces valeurs – qui croient en la coopération internationale et le libre-échange de biens, de services et d’idées. Dans ce monde nouveau, qui évolue à un rythme frénétique, le Canada tracera la voie à suivre. La démonstration en sera faite dès juin, quand le Canada présidera le Sommet du G7.

[In parallel, the Government is working to strengthen its relationships with reliable trading partners and allies around the world, recognizing that Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects.

Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values, that believe in international co-operation and the free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas. In this new, fast-evolving world, Canada is ready to lead. This will be demonstrated in June, when Canada convenes the G7 Summit.]

The Government is guided by its conviction that the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone. Many Canadians are struggling to get ahead. The Government is responding, reducing middle-class taxes and saving two-income families up to $840 a year. It will cut the GST on homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers, delivering savings of up to $50,000. And it will lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.

Le Gouvernement assurera la pérennité de programmes qui permettent déjà aux familles d’économiser des milliers de dollars par année. Notamment ceux pour les garderies et l’assurance- médicament. À ces progrès s’ajoute l’élargissement du Régime canadien de soins dentaires, qui sera bientôt accessible à environ huit millions de Canadiens et de Canadiennes, leur permettant d’économiser plus de huit cents dollars par année, en moyenne.

[The Government will protect the programs that are already saving families thousands of dollars every year. These include child care and pharmacare. In addition to these, the Government has recently expanded the Canadian Dental Care Plan to cover about eight million Canadians, saving the average person more than $800 per year.]

The Government’s overarching goal – its core mission – is to build the strongest economy in the G7. That starts with creating one Canadian economy out of thirteen. Internal barriers to trade and labour mobility cost Canada as much as $200 billion each year. The Government will introduce legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by Canada Day.

Les premiers ministres de plusieurs provinces et territoires ont déjà pris des mesures pour éliminer les obstacles au co merce intérieur. Le Gouvernement va s’appuyer sur ces progrès pour créer, d’ici la fête du Canada, un réel système de libre échange à travers le pays. Il s’agit d’efforts essentiels pour permettre au Canada de réaliser tout son potentiel économique, mais cela reste insuffisant.

[Numerous premiers have already taken vital steps to break down provincial and territorial barriers to trade. Together, we will build on that progress to deliver free trade across the nation by Canada Day. This is critical to unlocking Canada’s full economic potential, but it’s not enough.]

To build Canada strong, the Government is working closely with provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples to identify and catalyse projects of national significance. Projects that will connect Canada, that will deepen Canada’s ties with the world, and that will create high-paying jobs for generations.

Given the pace of change and the scale of opportunities, speed is of the essence. Through the creation of a new Major Federal Project Office, the time needed to approve a project will be reduced from five years to two; all while upholding Canada’s world-leading environmental standards and its constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples.

The Government will also strike co-operation agreements with every interested province and territory within six months to realize its goal of “one project, one review.”

When Canadians come together, Canada builds things that last.

Éliminer ces obstacles qui freinent l’économie canadienne permettra l’avènement d’une nouvelle ère de croissance grâce à laquelle le Canada va non seulement surmonter des guerres commerciales, mais en émerger plus fort que jamais. Cela lui permettra de devenir une superpuissance en matière d’énergie verte et conventionnelle. De bâtir une stratégie industrielle qui rendra le Canada plus compétitif à l’international, tout en luttant contre les changements climatiques. De bâtir des centaines de milliers de bonnes carrières dans les métiers spécialisés. Et donc de faire du Canada une plaque tournante pour la science et l’innovation.

[By removing these barriers that have held back our economy, we will unleash a new era of growth that will ensure we don’t just survive ongoing trade wars, but emerge from them stronger than ever. It will enable Canada to become the world’s leading energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy. To build an industrial strategy that will make Canada more globally competitive, while fighting climate change. To build hundreds of thousands of good careers in the skilled trades. And to build Canada into the world’s leading hub for science and innovation.]

Critically, the Government will undertake a series of measures to help double the rate of home building while creating an entirely new housing industry – using Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers, and Canadian lumber. The Government will introduce measures to deliver affordable homes by creating Build Canada Homes. This mission-driven organization will act to accelerate the development of new affordable housing. It will invest in the growth of the prefabricated and modular housing industry. And it will provide significant financing to affordable home builders. The Government will make the housing market work better, including by cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing. The Government will drive supply up to bring housing costs down.

To be truly strong, Canada must be secure. To that end, the Government will introduce legislation to enhance security at Canada’s borders. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies will have new tools to stop the flow of fentanyl and its precursors. The Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to examine goods destined for export, to prevent the transport of illegal and stolen products, including cars.

Le Gouvernement protégera la souveraineté du Canada en rebâtissant, réarmant et réinvestissant
dans les Forces armées canadiennes. Il stimulera l’industrie militaire canadienne en prenant part au
plan « ReArm Europe » et contribuera ainsi, avec des partenaires européens, à la sécurité
transatlantique. Et il investira pour renforcer sa présence dans le Nord, alors que cette région, qui
est partie intégrante de la nation canadienne, fait face à de nouvelles menaces.

[The Government will protect Canada’s sovereignty by rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. It will boost Canada’s defence industry by joining ReArm Europe, to invest in transatlantic security with Canada’s European partners. And it will invest to strengthen its presence in the North, which is an integral part of Canada, as this region faces new threats.]

The Government will discharge its duty to protect Canadians and their sovereign rights, from wherever challenges may come at home or abroad. To keep communities safe, the Government will hire 1,000 more RCMP personnel. It will change firearms licensing and strengthen enforcement of yellow and red flag laws. Weapons licences for those convicted of intimate partner violence and those subject to protection orders will be revoked. Through the deployment of scanners, drones and helicopters, additional personnel, and K-9 teams, the Government will stem the tide of illegal guns and drugs across the border.

It will take these steps while protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners and Indigenous Peoples’ longstanding hunting traditions.

The Government will bring a renewed focus on car theft and home invasions by toughening the Criminal Code to make bail harder to get for repeat offenders charged with committing these crimes, along with human trafficking and drug smuggling.

During this time of great change, Canadians are uniting behind what makes Canada unique.

La langue française et la culture québécoise sont au cœur de l’identité canadienne. Elles définissent le pays que les Canadiens, les Canadiennes et moi aimons tant. Le Canada est un pays où l’on respecte et célèbre les langues officielles et les langues autochtones. Le Gouvernement est déterminé à protéger les institutions qui font rayonner ces cultures et cette identité dans le monde entier, comme CBC/Radio-Canada. Protéger ceux qui nous donnent accès à des aliments frais, sains et de qualité : les producteurs agricoles. Et protéger la gestion de l’offre.

[The French language and the Quebec culture are at the heart of the Canadian identity. They define the country that Canadians and I love so much. Canada is a country that respects and celebrates its official languages and Indigenous languages. The Government is determined to protect the institutions that bring these cultures and this identity to the world, like CBC/Radio-Canada. It will protect the people who give us access to fresh, healthy, and quality food: agricultural producers. And it will protect supply management.]

Nature is core to Canada’s identity. In 2022, Canada convened COP15 in Montréal, which concluded with 196 countries striking a historic agreement to protect thirty percent of their lands and thirty percent of waters by 2030. To this end, the Government will protect more of Canada’s nature than ever before through the creation of new national parks, national urban parks, marine protected areas, and other conservation initiatives.

The Government will always protect the rights and freedoms that the Charter guarantees for every Canadian.

The Government will be a reliable partner to Indigenous Peoples, upholding its fundamental commitment to advancing reconciliation. Central to this commitment is the creation of long-term wealth and prosperity with Indigenous Peoples. For that reason, the Government will double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion – enabling more Indigenous communities to become owners of major projects. As Canada moves forward with nation-building projects, the Government will always be firmly guided by the principle of free, prior, and informed consent.

Canada’s immigration system has long been a source of pride for Canadians and of dynamism for the economy. The Government is dedicated to rebuilding the trust of Canadians in immigration by restoring balance to the system.

Le Gouvernement instaurera une limite sur le nombre de travailleurs étrangers temporaires et d’étudiants internationaux, établissant un plafond qui, à partir de deux mille vingt-sept, sera en deçà de cinq pour cent de la population canadienne. Simultanément, il attirera les meilleurs talents dans le monde pour bâtir l’économie. Et il fera savoir aux Canadiens et aux Canadiennes qui travaillent à l’étranger que, s’ils songent à revenir au pays, il n’y a pas de moment plus propice pour le faire.

[The Government will cap the total number of temporary foreign workers and international students to less than five percent of Canada’s population by 2027. By doing this, the Government will attract the best talent in the world to build our economy, while sending a clear message to Canadians working abroad that there is no better time to come home.]

Dans toutes ses actions, le Gouvernement sera guidé par une nouvelle discipline fiscale: dépenser moins, pour que les Canadiens puissent investir plus.

[In all of its actions, the Government will be guided by a new fiscal discipline: spend less so Canadians can invest more.]

Day-to-day government spending – the government’s operating budget – has been growing by nine percent every year. The Government will introduce measures to bring it below two percent.

Transfers to provinces, territories, or individuals will be maintained. The Government will balance its operating budget over the next three years by cutting waste, capping the public service, ending duplication, and deploying technology to improve public sector productivity.

In parallel, the Government will take a series of measures to catalyse new investment to create better jobs and higher i comes for Canadians. The scale of the Government’s initiative will match the challenges of our times and the ambitions of Canadians.

Honourable Senators, Members of the House of Commons,

When my dear late mother addressed your predecessors seven decades ago, she said that in that age, and against the backdrop of international affairs, no nation could live unto itself. It is a source of great pride that, in the following decades, Canada has continued to set an example to the world in her conduct and values, as a force for good.

À vous, et à l’ensemble du peuple canadien, mon épouse et moi-même adressons nos sincères remerciements pour cet accueil des plus chaleureux.

[I wish to express to you and to the people of Canada my heartfelt gratitude, and that of my wife, for the warmth of the welcome which we have received]

As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free!

Members of the House of Commons, you will be asked to appropriate the funds to carry out the services and expenditures authorized by Parliament.

May you honour the profound trust bestowed upon you by Canadians, and may God bless and guide you in all your duties.

The Prince of Wales Launches New Community Impact Partnership

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge try hurling during a visit to Salthill Knocknacarra GAA Club in Galway, to learn more about traditional sports during the third day of their visit to the Republic of Ireland. 2020

THE PRINCE OF WALES TO VISIT LEITH COMMUNITY CENTRE AS THE ROYAL FOUNDATION LAUNCHES NEW COMMUNITY IMPACT PARTNERSHIP

Leith, Edinburgh

Wednesday 21st May 2025

The Prince of Wales – Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland – will visit Leith Community Centre to shine a light on the power of community-led social impact as The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales announces a new collaboration with Street Soccer Scotland to foster health and wellbeing, reduce isolation, and strengthen social connections for thousands of local people of all ages through the power of football.

The project is part of the Royal Foundation’s Community Impact Programme, which aims to provide lasting impact and legacy in the communities Their Royal Highnesses visit. Originating in Leith in 2009, Street Soccer Scotland has been delivering free football-themed training and personal development programmes for socially disadvantaged adults and young people across Scotland.

As part of the new partnership, the Royal Foundation is providing funding for Street Soccer Scotland that will support efforts to revitalise Leith Community Centre. The Royal Foundation is also working closely with the charity as it brings together local partners including Leith Community Centre and YMCA Edinburgh to create ‘Leith United’. This new coalition aims to set a framework for sustainable funding for community spaces and initiatives that other communities can utilise and learn from. The ambition is for it to exist as a blueprint for innovative practices in partnerships and community asset management which can be replicated across other communities across the UK.

Street Soccer Scotland will use the grant from The Royal Foundation to:

• Revitalise and renovate Leith Community Centre to create an inclusive, welcoming space for local residents.

• Enhance existing sports-based initiatives at the Community Centre that use the power of football to support people experiencing issues such as poor mental health, addiction, homelessness and isolation, fostering a sense of belonging for the most vulnerable in the Leith community.

• Enable vital outreach work in the community to better support individuals experiencing social challenges.

• Facilitate the recruitment of a dedicated member of staff to further the impact of the ‘Leith United’ coalition.

By pooling the experience, networks, and resources of organisations in the coalition, ‘Leith United’ will be able to grow and expand on existing work, creating a space at Leith Community Centre that reflects the needs and aspirations of the whole community. Street Soccer Scotland will provide football themed programmes to support socially disadvantaged adults and young people. YMCA Edinburgh will continue their work empowering young people, children and their families to transform their lives.

Leith Community Centre will continue to be a vital part of the community, run by local volunteers and staff, offering a home to a variety of diverse activities, including language, dance and art classes, history groups, martial arts, and a variety of youth clubs and family crafts.

The King and Queen to Undertake Royal Visit to Canada

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Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a D-Day national commemoration event in Portsmouth, England, June 5, 2024.
Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a D-Day national commemoration event in Portsmouth, England, June 5, 2024.

THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND QUEEN TO UNDERTAKE ROYAL VISIT TO CANADA

Monday 26th – Tuesday 27th May 2025

The King and Queen will undertake a royal visit to Ottawa, Canada, from Monday 26th to Tuesday 27th May 2025. The historic visit will be the King’s first to Canada as sovereign.

Upon arrival in Ottawa, Their Majesties will join a community event showcasing the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Canada, during which the King and Queen will have the opportunity to meet Canadians from across the country, from a range of organisations.

His Majesty will hold audiences with the Governor-General and Prime Minister Carney before a short ceremony to swear in the Queen as a member of the Canadian Privy Council.

At Rideau Hall, Their Majesties will plant a tree in the grounds to mark the visit, near the site of the sugar maple tree which the King and Queen, as Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, planted during their tour of Canada in 2017.

The first day of the visit will conclude with a short reception for Lieutenant Governors from each of the 10 Canadian provinces, and Territorial Commissioners from the three territories.

On Tuesday 27th May, the King, as head of state in Canada, will attend the State Opening of the Parliament of Canada, accompanied by the Queen.

During the ceremony, His Majesty will deliver the Speech from the Throne to the Senate Chamber. The occasion will be only the second time that the sovereign has opened a Parliament, following Queen Elizabeth II opening the 23rd Canadian Parliament in October 1957, and the third time a sovereign has delivered a Speech from the Throne, marking a significant moment between the head of state and the Canadian people.

Before concluding their visit, Their Majesties will lay a wreath and flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial on the eve of its 25th anniversary.

Previous Royal visits to Canada:

The King and Queen, as Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, visited Canada in 2022 to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

This visit will be the King’s twentieth visit to Canada and Her Majesty’s sixth visit.

The Duchess of Edinburgh Joins Orbis at Battersea Power Station

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Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the third annual Orbis Visionaries reception at Battersea Power Station. May 2025. Credit: Orbis Charitable Trust
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the third annual Orbis Visionaries reception at Battersea Power Station. May 2025. Credit: Orbis Charitable Trust

HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh Joins Orbis at Battersea Power Station: Powering Up Sight-Saving Charity Work

The Third Annual Orbis Visionaries Reception Sets its Sights on 2030

21st May 2025

Last night, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the third annual Orbis Visionaries reception at the historic Battersea Power Station, in London. In her role as the Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Her Royal Highness has witnessed Orbis’s impactful work in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and India, over many years. The event was held inside the historic Control Room A and was also attended by other high-profile guests including Susannah Constantine and Tom Davies.

The Orbis Visionaries reception showcased innovative approaches to providing eye care and the charity’s plans for the next five years. Today, 1.1 billion people live with vision loss globally, yet 90% of cases are avoidable. The majority of those affected live in low- and middle-income countries where health services can be difficult to access.

The global economic impact of untreated sight loss is estimated to be $411 billion in lost productivity. Without items like glasses or cataract surgery that we take for granted in the UK, children can miss out on educations, adults can lose their livelihoods, and falling into poverty can become inevitable.

Since 1982, Orbis has been working across the globe to train eye care teams, and expand eye health services, so those living with sight loss can be found and treated. Orbis also operates the world’s only fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board a plane, the Flying Eye Hospital.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the third annual Orbis Visionaries reception at Battersea Power Station. May 2025. Credit: Orbis Charitable Trust
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the third annual Orbis Visionaries reception at Battersea Power Station. May 2025. Credit: Orbis Charitable Trust

Closing the Vision Gap – Reaching More People by 2030:

The event featured a panel discussion led by renowned TV presenter and journalist Helen Fospero, where Orbis experts discussed tackling avoidable vision loss and addressed key issues such as access to eye care for women and children, and improving vision to support work. The panellists and points mentioned included:

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh
“I have been lucky enough to travel with Orbis through my work with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness as Global Ambassador, and I have seen for myself so many times the very effective operations that are carried out in varying situations. The wonderful thing about eye solutions is that it’s so simple. We have the technology. We have the know-how. We just don’t have the spread of capability. I had a wonderful trip to Ethiopia, which is the country with the largest number of people with blinding trachoma in the world, and although they face a massive uphill struggle, we’ve already seen huge improvements in interventions.”

Professor Nathan Condon, Director, Research and Tech Advisor, Orbis International
“Of the 1.1 billion people living with vision loss, about half is people who have near vision impairment. These are people that just need a pair of reading glasses, something that we could go to Boots Opticians and get within fifteen minutes, but which is unavailable for most of the world’s population.”

Lucia Mvula, Country Director, Orbis Zambia
“In Zambia, we have far flung communities that do not have access to services when they need them the most, especially children. In some cases, we have children arriving at the health centre or the hospital late with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer. Without early intervention, by the time they get into the hospital, it’s probably too late. We want to bring services as close to these communities as possible.”

Dr. Alemayehu Sisay, Country Director, Orbis Ethiopia
“Ethiopia still carries the largest share of the global burden of trachoma. Nearly 200,000 people in the country suffer from the blinding form of the disease, and more than half of those at risk across the world live there. Eliminating trachoma by 2030 is our top priority. It should not be a disease affecting mothers and children in the 21st Century. That is our vision for Ethiopia.”

The Orbis Visionaries evening was supported by OMEGA, who have contributed to Orbis’s sight saving work since 2011. For the Orbis Visionaries reception, the Swiss watchmaker offered a Speedmaster 38 mm Orbis timepiece which, through a silent auction. Along with providing vital funding for the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, OMEGA has also supported Orbis’ work through the provision of teddy bears for young patients, as well as through global awareness campaigns featuring brand ambassadors such as Cindy Crawford and Daniel Craig.

Royal Visits:

In October 2023, Orbis welcomed The Duchess of Edinburgh to their work in Hawassa, Ethiopia, where Her Royal Highness witnessed dedicated health workers screening for and treating the painful eye disease trachoma, and met teachers assessing children for the condition, as well as other sight loss issues.

Orbis is proud to have also welcomed The Duchess to visit to their Flying Eye Hospital project in 2013 in Kolkata, India, and then again to Dhaka and Chattogram, in 2017, where she saw their work first-hand, training local eye care professionals and supporting the community.

The Road to 2030:

The next five years leading up to 2030 are critical to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end poverty and inequality, by ensuring people have their health, justice and prosperity. It is critical that no one is left behind and vision plays a key role.

By accessing quality eye care, lives and local economies can be transformed in areas where it is needed most. Orbis has a vision for 2030 and will continue to save sight worldwide through expanding school screening programmes, delivering projects for low-income workers, and training the next generation of eye care professionals.

If you would like to find out more about Orbis’s work, and how you can help, visit their website: www.orbis.org.uk

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the third annual Orbis Visionaries reception at Battersea Power Station. May 2025. Credit: Orbis Charitable Trust
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the third annual Orbis Visionaries reception at Battersea Power Station. May 2025. Credit: Orbis Charitable Trust

The Prince and Princess of Wales to Attend Naming Ceremony of HMS Glasgow

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The Prince and Princess of Wales attend Royal Ascot on Day Four of the horse racing event. June, 2023.
The Prince and Princess of Wales attend Royal Ascot on Day Four of the horse racing event. June, 2023.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES (DUKE AND DUCHESS OF ROTHESAY WHEN IN SCOTLAND) WILL ATTEND THE NAMING CEREMONY OF HMS GLASGOW

Scotstoun, Glasgow

Thursday 22nd May 2025

The Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales, Sponsor HMS Glasgow, will attend the ship’s naming ceremony at the BAE Systems’ shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow.

In June 2021, the Princess was appointed as the Sponsor of HMS Glasgow, a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, designed to provide protection to the UK’s nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers.

In 2022, Her Royal Highness met Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to hear about the progress of work being done on the ship as well as their experiences in the Royal Navy.

King and Queen to Visit RHS Chelsea Flower Show

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit the Flower Market Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 in Paris.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit the Flower Market Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 in Paris.

THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND THE QUEEN AND MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY WILL VISIT THE RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Monday, 19th May 2025

His Majesty The King, Patron, The Royal Horticultural Society, and Her Majesty The Queen, along with the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, will visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Their Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted on arrival by the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, Keith Weed, before touring the gardens and viewing the displays at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which runs from 20th to 24th May.

Established in 1913, on the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has become one of the world’s greatest showcases for horticultural excellence, attracting visitors and exhibitors from across the globe.

Since its beginning, the show has gone from strength to strength. It has grown from 244 exhibitors in 1913 to over 400 horticultural exhibits. Today the show attracts 145,000 visitors each year.

You can learn more about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in issues 64, 43, 3011 and 4 of Royal Life magazine, it’s blooming lovely!

The Princess of Wales - A Passion for Helping Children: Royal Life Magazine - Issue 64
The Princess of Wales – A Passion for Helping Children: Royal Life Magazine – Issue 64
Royals at The Chelsea Flower Show: Royal Life Magazine – Issue 43
Royals at The Chelsea Flower Show: Royal Life Magazine – Issue 43
A Blooming Lovely Day Out- RHS Chelsea Flower Show
A Blooming Lovely Day Out – RHS Chelsea Flower Show Issue 11
RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Issue 30
RHS Chelsea Flower Show – Issue 30
RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Issue 4
RHS Chelsea Flower Show – Issue 4

Two New Raven Chicks are a ‘cawwse’ for Celebration at the Tower of London

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Two new raven chicks have arrived at the Tower of London, where legend dictates a certain number of the birds are required for the safety of the kingdom. (c) Historic Royal Palaces
Two new raven chicks have arrived at the Tower of London, where legend dictates a certain number of the birds are required for the safety of the kingdom. (c) Historic Royal Palaces

Two New Raven Chicks are a ‘cawwse’ for Celebration at the Tower of London

15 May 2025

Two new raven chicks have arrived at the Tower of London, where legend dictates a certain number of the birds are required for the safety of the kingdom. The new arrivals, named Henry and Poe, were born in April as part of the Tower raven breeding programme and have joined six other ravens at the almost 1000 year old palace, fortress and prison.

Henry has been named for all of the historic Henrys who have lived at the Tower – including King Henry VIII of Tudor fame, and King Henry III who built the Wakefield Tower just beyond the raven enclosure. Meanwhile fellow new arrival Poe is named for Edgar Allan Poe who wrote the famous poem ‘The Raven.’

Legend states that King Charles II was the first to insist that the ravens of the Tower of London be protected. The story is that the King’s astronomer John Flamsteed, who had an observatory in the White Tower, complained that the resident ravens were impeding his work and requested their removal. The King was advised that if the ravens left the Tower then the Kingdom would fall – an alarming sentiment for the son of the deposed King Charles I – and so the legend has been kept alive ever since.

Two new raven chicks have arrived at the Tower of London, where legend dictates a certain number of the birds are required for the safety of the kingdom. (c) Historic Royal Palaces
Two new raven chicks have arrived at the Tower of London, where legend dictates a certain number of the birds are required for the safety of the kingdom. (c) Historic Royal Palaces

Henry and Poe join Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar and Chaos at the Tower of London, where they are cared for by the Ravenmaster YW Barney Chandler, and his team. YW Chandler was formerly in the Royal Marines for 24 years before becoming a Yeoman Warder, and spent 14 years as part of the ‘raven team’ before taking on the top job in March 2024. These are the first raven chicks to be introduced to the Tower of London since Ravenmaster Barney Chandler ascended to the role last year.

Siblings Henry and Poe will spend the next few weeks in the enclosure adjusting to the sights and sounds of the Tower, before being slowly introduced to the other ravens, and eventually being encouraged to venture out and explore their new home.

The Tower ravens are fed a variety of raw meat each day, plus an egg once a week and blood-soaked biscuits as a special treat. They spend their days carrying out important duties around the Tower; posing for photographs, taste-testing packed lunch items, and of course keeping the legend of the Tower ravens alive for years to come.

The common raven is the biggest member of the corvid family, and is all black with a large bill, long wings, and a diamond-shaped tail. They are intelligent birds that spend time in groups in their youth, but eventually tend to pair off and defend their territory together. The most common name for a group of ravens is an ‘unkindness’, but they are also sometimes collectively described as a ‘conspiracy’.

Yeoman Warder Barney Chandler, Ravenmaster of the Tower of London, said:

“It’s an honour to be introducing our new raven chicks Henry and Poe to the Tower of London, and I’m absolutely delighted with how they’ve settled in so far. The team and I have had a busy couple of weeks looking after these troublemakers, who require a lot of care and attention when they’re very young, but now that they’re almost fully fledged we’re ready to bring them into the fold and let the other ravens take over showing them the ropes.”

The King and The Prince of Wales will Attend Service for the Order of the Bath

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Members of the Order of the Garter arrive for the annual Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Monday June 19, 2023.
Members of the Order of the Garter arrive for the annual Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Monday June 19, 2023.

THE KING AND THE PRINCE OF WALES WILL ATTEND THE SERVICE FOR THE ORDER OF THE BATH IN ITS 300TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR
Westminster Abbey

Friday 16th May 2025

His Majesty The King, Sovereign Head of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Great Master of the Order, will attend a Service for the Oath and Installation of the Great Master and the Knights Grand Cross. This is His Majesty’s first service as Sovereign.

Established in 1725, by Letters Patent of George I, today members of the Order of the Bath include military officers and senior civil servants.

The Prince of Wales will be installed as Great Master of the Order during the ceremony, which will include the oath taking and installation of five Knights.

The King and the Prince of Wales will be received at the Great West Door of the abbey, before joining the procession of the Officers and Knights and Dame Grand Cross through the church, to take their seats in the Quire.

His Majesty and His Royal Highness will later process to the Henry VII Lady Chapel for the Installation ceremonies.

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