The Queen will visit Drapers’ Hall for Luncheon on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Admission to the Freedom of the Company

Wednesday 31st May, 2017

Her Majesty The Queen will visit Drapers’ Hall for a Luncheon on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Admission to the Freedom of the Company.

Upon arrival, The Queen will be met by Sir David Wootton (Lord Mayor, Locum Tenens) who will present Mr. William Charnley (Master) who will himself present Colonel Richard Winstanley (Clerk).

After the arrival, Her Majesty will meet members of the Court of Assistants (the governing body) and be photographed with the Master and Wardens from the Court.  

After lunch, The Queen will be asked to sign the Instrument.  This document, written on vellum, formally records Her Majesty’s attendance at the lunch to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of her becoming a Freeman of the Company.  The Instrument has been drafted by Tim Noad who is a professional calligrapher, illuminator and heraldic artist from Her Majesty’s College of Arms.  He has produced similar instruments to record Her Majesty’s visits to the Hall on previous occasions as well as the Company’s 2008 Charter. 

Founded over 650 years ago, the Drapers’ Company is incorporated by Royal Charter and is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies in the City of London. Whilst its original involvement in the woollen cloth trade, from which it took its name, has ceased, the essence of the medieval fraternity has remained constant in the traditions of good fellowship and charity.   It has evolved into an organisation that addresses contemporary issues, gaining a new relevance through its philanthropic role. 

Its main functions are the commercial management of its own substantial endowment and the trusteeship of the many charitable trusts that have been left in its care over the centuries.  Much of the Company’s work concentrates on enabling young people to pursue educational qualifications, rise above social exclusion, and reach their full potential.  The Company also focuses on helping those in need or experiencing hardship through support of organisations working with the homeless, older people, disabled people and prisoners.  It provides support for textile conservation, heritage projects and projects in areas of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The members today comprise a wide cross-section of society.  Some members’ families have been Drapers for centuries; other members with no links have been admitted following an interview.  They fulfil a variety of corporate governance roles for the Company and certain external organisations, and direct its philanthropic initiatives.

On 20 May 1947, Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth was made Free of the Company (became a member) by Patrimony, following in her father’s (the then Duke of York) footsteps who had become a Draper in 1919.

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The Duke of Edinburgh Celebrates 130th Anniversary of London Youth

Wednesday 31st May 2017

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, London Youth, will host an afternoon reception in the Garden at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the charity’s 130th Anniversary.

London Youth is a diverse network of over 300 community youth organisations who work to support young people of all backgrounds across the capital to become the best that they can be.

His Royal Highness became Patron of London Youth in 1947 – it was his first charity patronage. Since then The Duke of Edinburgh has undertaken over 125 engagements with the charity over the course of 70 years.

The reception will bring together the charity’s closest supporters, youth workers and aspiring young leaders who are involved in delivering a range of programmes on youth action and leadership, sports development, employability, the environment, tackling youth crime and youth work training.

During the reception, The Duke of Edinburgh will view a display showcasing the history of the charity and meet people people who are participating in youth action projects in their local clubs and communities throughout London.

In the Garden, His Royal Highness will view several outdoor activities including tennis, catapult making and a climbing tower. The Duke will also meet people involved in painting and creative projects, to include a ‘What I love about London’ visual map.

To conclude, His Royal Highness will watch a dance performance and cut a cake to mark the charity’s 130th Anniversary occasion.

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The Duke of Cambridge will attend commemorations for the
Battle of Messines Ridge

Wednesday 7th June, 2017

The Duke of Cambridge will attend commemorations for the Battle of Messines Ridge in Belgium on Wednesday 7th June. The visit is being undertaken at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

The Duke of Cambridge and The Taoiseach Enda Kenny will firstly attend a commemorative ceremony at the Island of Ireland Peace Park, jointly organised by the UK and Irish Governments, in partnership with the Mayor of Messines.

Around 500 guests will attend this shared commemoration, which will includes an Act of Remembrance, readings by members of the Royal Irish Regiment and the Irish Defence Forces, and musical interludes performed by the Royal Band of the Belgian Navy. The Duke will lay a wreath at the foot of the Round Tower in the Peace Park, before meeting invited guests, including descendants of those who fought at the battle.

His Royal Highness will then travel to the Wytschaete Cemetery, where over 1,000 servicemen of the First World War are buried or commemorated, including many from the Battle of Messines Ridge. The Duke will pay his respects at a small ceremony at the 16th Irish Division Memorial Cross, also attended by The Taoiseach. His Royal Highness will then meet family members of servicemen buried in Wytschaete Cemetery and hear more about their individual stories of the First World War.

The Battle of Messines Ridge has particular historic and symbolic significance for Ireland and Northern Ireland, as it was the first time that the 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster) Divisions fought alongside each other during the First World War. These joint ceremonies are an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives in the Battle, and reflect on the shared history between the United Kingdom and Ireland.

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Prince Harry to Attend Launch of UK Team for Invictus Games Toronto 2017

Tower of London and Plaisterers’ Hall

Tuesday 30th May, 2017

Prince Harry, Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, will attend the launch of the team selected to represent the UK at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 on Tuesday 30th May.

The 90-strong team of wounded, injured and sick (WIS) Service personnel, both serving and veterans, will come together for the first time at the Tower of London. Invictus Games Toronto 2017 has inspired more hopefuls than ever before with 62% of the team being brand new to the Games. Prince Harry will meet the team ahead of the forthcoming Games, and pose for the first official team photograph.

Following the launch, His Royal Highness will join the UK team at a reception at Plaisterers’ Hall where he will meet groups of competitors. He will be amongst those giving a short speech at the reception.

The Invictus Games is the only international sport event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of all those who serve their country. The UK is one of 17 nations who will be taking part in the third Invictus Games from 23th-30th September in Toronto, Canada. Over 550 competitors will compete in 12 adaptive sports.

The UK delegation to the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 is being delivered by a partnership comprising The Ministry of Defence, Help for Heroes, and The Royal British Legion. The UK team trials were attended by more than 300 wounded, injured and sick Service personnel who competed across 11 sports for one of the places available on the UK team. Continued training will take place across the country at recovery centres and other external venues as part of Help for Heroes’ extensive Sports Recovery programme to train and develop the team.

For more information on the 2017 Invictus Games please visit www.invictusgames2017.com.

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The Duke of Edinburgh to host DofE Gold Award Presentations

The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), will host receptions in London, Belfast and Edinburgh to celebrate young people who have achieved the Gold Standard in the Award. The receptions will be held on the following dates:

• Buckingham Palace – Wednesday 24th May
• Hillsborough Castle – Thursday 25th May
• Palace of Holyroodhouse – Thursday 6th July

The Earl of Wessex, Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh Award, and The Countess of Wessex will also attend the reception at Buckingham Palace.

The Duke of Edinburgh has attended over 500 Gold Award Presentations since the DofE was founded in 1956. During the receptions, His Royal Highness will meet young people and hear about their journey to achieve a Gold Award, which takes a minimum of 12 months through the five sections:

• Volunteering – service to others or the community
• Physical – achieve a certain standard of health and fitness
• Skills – develop practical skills and nurture personal interests and talents
• Expeditions – execution of an outdoor challenge
• Residential – undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is the world’s leading youth achievement award that develops over 400,000 young people for life and work every year in the UK. Founded by His Royal Highness in 1956, the DofE is currently being delivered in 10,800 DofE centres such as schools, youth clubs and prisons, supported by over 2,600 partner organisations and approximately 40,000 adult volunteers from all walks of life.

In total, over six million people have participated in DofE programmes in the UK and achieved over 2.7 million Awards since 1956.

The DofE is supported by UK employers including British Gas, RSM, Amey, Heathrow, DFS and Royal Mail who endorse the skills and attributes developed whilst doing a DofE programme such as resilience, commitment, self-motivation and team working.

In 1988, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation was established and, since then, has made DofE programmes available to young people in more than 140 countries and territories. Nelson Mandela was the founding Patron-in-Chief of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment (the Award in South Africa).

For more information about the DofE go to www.DofE.org.

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