The King and Queen will undertake a Royal Visit to Canada
2nd May 2025
The King and Queen will visit Canada from Monday 26th to Tuesday 27th May.
Their Majesties will attend The State Opening of the Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa.
Le Roi et la Reine effectueront une visite au Canada le lundi 26 et le mardi 27 mai.
Le Roi et la Reine assisteront à la cérémonie d’ouverture du Parlement du Canada, à Ottawa.
THE KING AND QUEEN, ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRINCE OF WALES, WILL HOST A RECEPTION FOR THE VICTORIA CROSS AND GEORGE CROSS ASSOCIATION
Thursday 1st May 2025
The King, Patron, The VC and GC Association, accompanied by the Queen and the Prince of Wales, President, will host a reception at Windsor Castle for members of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
Their Majesties and His Royal Highness will join holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross, for a formal group photograph in St George’s Hall, before spending time with the VC & GC holders, and members of their families, as well as representatives of posthumously awarded recipients, in the Grand Reception Room.
Founded in 1956, the VC & GC Association represents all living holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross. The association aims to provide support to the living holders and their families, restore – and in some cases, create – graves and memorials associated with VC & GC holders, and educate the public on the two awards.
🎖️The King, The Queen and The Prince of Wales have hosted a special reception at Windsor Castle for holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 1, 2025
The Victoria Cross is awarded to those serving in British and Commonwealth Forces who have shown tremendous bravery. The George… pic.twitter.com/tgKc6wg0YF
The King and Queen, joined by the King and Queen of Sweden, will plant a tree at Windsor Castle
Thursday 1st May 2025
In celebration of the coronation of the King and Queen at Westminster Abbey in May 2023, a Swedish oak (Quercus robur) tree, gifted by the King of Sweden, will be planted in the Home Park at Windsor Castle.
The tree was grown at the Royal Nursery at Solliden, the Swedish royal family’s summer residence.
The King and Queen will undertake engagements on Friday, May 2, together with the Minister of State, Maria Malmer Stenergard.
Their Majesties and the Foreign Minister will attend, among other things, a roundtable discussion on life science at the Royal Society in London.
The roundtable discussion is a follow-up to the visit that the King and Queen made to the United Kingdom in 2022, during which a cooperation agreement between the two countries was signed in the field of life sciences.
🇬🇧🌳🇸🇪 In the sunny grounds of Windsor Castle, The King and Queen were joined by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden in planting a Swedish oak (Quercus robur) tree to celebrate Their Majesties’ Coronation.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 1, 2025
The tree was gifted by The King of Sweden from the Royal… pic.twitter.com/Aav5HYeaD1
THE PRINCESS ROYAL (AND VICE ADMIRAL SIR TIM LAURENCE) IN TURKEY: DAY ONE
Thursday 24th April 2025
Her Royal Highness will begin her programme in Turkey with a commemorative service at the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial. The Princess Royal will deliver an address and will lay flowers at the memorial to mark the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign.
Her Royal Highness will proceed to a service at the Morto Bay French National Cemetery. At the French Commemoration, the Princess Royal will lay a wreath at the Lantern Tower Memorial and place flowers on the graves of French soldiers who lost their lives during the fighting.
As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), Her Royal Highness will visit the grave of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Doughty-Wylie, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for service at Gallipoli. As Lieutenant Colonel Doughty-Wylie was in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, His Majesty The King, as Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Welsh, has provided a wreath card to be laid at the grave.
The Princess Royal will deliver a message on behalf of His Majesty at a memorial service at the Cape Helles Memorial for United Kingdom, Commonwealth and Irish servicemen. The CWGC Torch of Remembrance will be walked down the aisle by Defence Attaché staff, family and veterans to represent the handing over of remembrance to the younger generations.
The first day of Her Royal Highness’s visit will conclude with a tour Seddülbahir Castle, which was at the heart of the campaign and has recently been restored in a 25-year process. Her Royal Highness will unveil a plaque to mark the visit after greeting local CWGC staff, firefighters, curators and residents.
THE PRINCESS ROYAL (AND VICE ADMIRAL SIR TIM LAURENCE) IN TURKEY: DAY TWO
Friday 25th April 2025
The Princess Royal will begin a second day of commemorations by addressing the ‘Spirit of Place’ Ceremony and Dawn Memorial Service at Anzac Cove, a key landing spot for Australian and New Zealand forces during the campaign and laying a wreath. The Australian and New Zealand Governments jointly conduct the Anzac Day Gallipoli Dawn Service on 25 April each year at the Anzac Commemorative site. Of the more than 75,000 Australians and New Zealanders that served at Gallipoli between 25 April and 20 December 1915, over 10,000 lost their lives.
Her Royal Highness will conduct audiences with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, and the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency The Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn.
The Princess Royal will proceed to the Australian National Service at Lone Pine Cemetery, where she will lay a wreath at the Lone Pine Memorial.
Finally, Her Royal Highness will attend the New Zealand Memorial service at Chunuk Bair Cemetery where the Princess Royal will lay a wreath at the Memorial of the Missing.
THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF ROTHESAY WILL VISIT THE ISLES OF MULL AND IONA
Scotland
Tuesday 29th – Wednesday 30th April
The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as Duke and Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland, will visit the Isles of Mull and Iona on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th April to celebrate and connect with rural island communities.
Their Royal Highnesses will spend time with members of the local community reflecting on the power of social connection and the importance of protecting and championing the natural environment, two subjects which are close to Their Royal Highnesses’ hearts.
On arrival, the Duke and Duchess will travel to the town of Tobermory, where they will visit a much-loved community hub in the heart of the town and an artisan market at which they will meet some of the island’s makers and creators. Their Royal Highnesses will also go to a local croft to learn about sustainable farming and hospitality on the island.
A huge thanks to the local community for the warm welcome and a brilliant afternoon spent in Tobermory. pic.twitter.com/RALC3IBY7w
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 29, 2025
On the second day, Their Royal Highnesses will visit an ancient woodland to meet the Mull and Iona Ranger Service, which plays a vital role in conservation, biodiversity protection and education on the islands. The Rangers regularly partner with local primary schools to ensure that every child on the islands experiences the beautiful natural environment around them. The Duke and Duchess will join a local school group as they take part in some outdoor learning.
In their final public engagement, the Duke and Duchess will take the public ferry across the water to Iona, before which they’ll meet those who run the service as well as members of the community who use it. Residents on the islands are highly dependent on the ferry routes and rely on them to connect them and to transport provisions back and forth between the islands and the mainland.
The Isle of Mull is the fourth largest island in Scotland, with a population of around 3,000 people and home to strong tourism, farming and fishing industries. It’s tiny neighbour, Iona, has a population of around 170 people but receives around 130,000 visitors a year thanks to its ancient history and traditional way of life.
The landscapes and communities on the Scottish Isles provide a sharp contrast to how many of us in more urban environments live. These island communities offer a powerful model for fostering a more loving, empathetic, and compassionate society though deeper connections with our surroundings and engaging more in shared endeavours.
The royal couple will celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary on 29th April.
Wonderful to be back on the Isle of Mull. Thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome ❤️ W & C pic.twitter.com/pBmx9qCLri
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 29, 2025
A Message from The King to Mark Easter
17 April 2025
One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness. This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and in the scenes that daily come before our eyes — at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war-torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others. A few weeks ago, I met many such people at a reception in Buckingham Palace and felt a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion.
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of many of those who would abandon Him. His humble action was a token of His love that knew no bounds or boundaries and is central to Christian belief.
The love He showed when he walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and those in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions, and in the hearts of all who seek the good of others.
The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world — the whole world — that He sent His son to live among us to show us how to love one another, and to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death.
There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love”.
It is with these timeless truths in my mind, and my heart, that I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Easter.
Charles R
THE PRINCE OF WALES TO VISIT MENTIVITY
Aylesbury Estate, Southwark, London SE17
Thursday 24th April 2025
The Prince of Wales will visit Mentivity, an organisation committed to empowering young people by ensuring they have access to high-quality youth services and safe spaces where they can thrive. The organisation, founded in 2016, engages over 400 local young people weekly through mentoring programmes, school outreach and youth clubs.
The Prince will visit Mentivity House, the organisation’s community centre and youth hub based on the Aylesbury Estate in south London. Opened in March 2024, Mentivity House provides a space for creativity, connection, and growth, offering workshops and youth clubs, plus community initiatives including food and hygiene banks.
His Royal Highness will meet Mentivity founders, Sayce Holmes-Lewis and Leon Wright, who will share how their upbringing on the Aylesbury Estate has shaped Mentivity’s innovative approach to supporting young people and creating opportunities for lasting change. The Prince will spend time with the young people supported by Mentivity and have the opportunity to engage with some of the activities the organisation provides.
During his visit, His Royal Highness will also join a roundtable hosted by entrepreneur Tim Campbell MBE – a former winner and current advisor on The Apprentice – who has recently become a Mentivity patron. The roundtable will bring together representatives from local businesses to discuss the value of apprenticeships, barriers young people face when accessing these opportunities and how local businesses can collaborate with organisations like Mentivity to create sustainable employment routes.
THE PRINCESS OF WALES JOINS CHIEF SCOUT, DWAYNE FIELDS, IN A SPECIAL FILM SHOWCASING THE POWER OF SPENDING TIME IN NATURE
The Princess of Wales, Joint President of Scouts, and Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, have appeared in a short film discussing the importance of the natural world and its ability to support our health and wellbeing on a visit to the Lake District last month.
The film sees the Princess and Dwayne on a walk near the shores of Lake Windermere where they spend time with a group of Scouts aged between 10 and 15 from groups in Cumbria and Greater Manchester as they undertake a challenge to earn their Naturalist Badge.
During their conversation, Her Royal Highness and Dwayne talked about how spending time in nature can help us to deepen connections with ourselves and each other while building our skills of empathy, resilience and our sense of belonging. The two also discussed the impact being in nature can have on young people in building their confidence and skills for later life.
During the film, the Princess of Wales says:
“I find it a very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection I suppose, these environments. Not everyone has that same relationship perhaps with nature, but it is so therefore meaningful for me as a place to balance and find a sort of sense of peace and reconnection in what is otherwise a very busy world.”
And Dwayne says:
“I think it’s really important for young people to have access to nature because it’s a space where they can push themselves, they can challenge themselves, they learn leadership skills, spend time making friends and those life-long really great memories that we all hold onto. And I think if we can do that, we’ll build up a generation who is passionate about our natural spaces and passionate about protecting them as well.”
Scouts regularly enable 450,000 young people to engage with and experience wellbeing in nature, a cause which is very close to the Princess’s heart. Taking part in camping, hiking, canoeing and climbing gives young people the ability to develop their team working, leadership and planning skills and helps them become more resilient and supportive of each other.
Reflecting on the film, Dwayne said:
“In an increasingly complex world digital technology has its place, but the few hours we spent in the hills without screens was magical: we are often at our best in the outdoors, and I want more young people to experience outdoor adventures like this for themselves.
“Outdoor adventures can build the vital skills young people need for the rest of their lives, they hugely benefit health and wellbeing, and boost friendships. And with the help of more adult volunteers, we hope to get more young people out into nature in the future.”
The Princess has been Joint President of Scouts since 2020. This was the first time she had met Dwayne Fields, who took on his role as Chief Scout in September 2024.
THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH WILL ATTEND ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATIONS IN LONDON
Friday 25th April 2025
The Duchess of Edinburgh will attend the annual Anzac Day commemorations in London, organised by the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions. Her Royal Highness will attend the dawn service at Hyde Park Corner, and later the service of commemoration and thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.
The Duchess of Edinburgh will also attend the wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph and lay a wreath on behalf of His Majesty The King.
Anzac Day has been observed in London since King George V attended the first service at Westminster Abbey in 1916 to mark the anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli in 1915. Since then, the services have become an important moment to commemorate all Australians and New Zealanders who lost their lives in conflict and recognise all those who have served.
Anzac Day is commemorated as a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand, with memorial ceremonies held at various locations.
THE KING AND QUEEN WILL ATTEND THE ROYAL MAUNDY SERVICE AT DURHAM CATHEDRAL
Their Majesties The King and Queen will attend the Royal Maundy Service and His Majesty will distribute the Maundy gifts at Durham Cathedral.
The King and Queen will be received on arrival by the Dean of Durham Cathedral, the Reverend Philip Plyming and the Lord High Almoner, Bishop Graham Usher.
Inside the cathedral, Their Majesties will be presented with the traditional nosegays, a small flower bouquet, before joining the procession through the nave as the service begins.
During the service, the King will present the Maundy recipients – 76 men and 76 women – with two purses: one red and one white, containing Maundy Money. In the white purse will be a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins. This year the Red Purse contains a £5 coin commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Queen Mother’s birth, and a 50p coin which features stories of the Second World War.
The Royal Maundy gifts are given in recognition of recipients’ outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities.
At the conclusion of the service, Their Majesties will join the Royal Maundy party for a photograph outside the North Door.
Before departure, the King and Queen will visit the Deanery to meet members of the community involved in the service and to see a special exhibition of the cathedral’s Magna Cartas, on display for the first time in eight years, recognising the 800th anniversary of the 1225 issue in Durham’s collection.
Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.
The distribution of alms and the washing of the feet on the Thursday of Holy Week are an ancient tradition. The Royal Maundy can be traced back in England to the 13th century, with the first recorded royal distribution at Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, by King John in 1210. From the 15th century, the number of recipients has been related to the years of the sovereign’s life.
The Royal Maundy recipients are selected from Church of England dioceses across the country, and Anglican and Ecumenical partners across the UK. This year, the recipients have been chosen from the dioceses of the Northern Province of England and Scotland.
Each year the monarch is assisted in distributing the Maundy Money by the Lord High Almoner, currently the Bishop of Norwich. Appointed in November 2024, this is Bishop Graham Usher’s first Maundy service.
