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His Majesty The King Become Patron of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall looking at graves during the Royal British Legion's Service of Remembrance, at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, in Bayeux, France, as part of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall looking at graves during the Royal British Legion's Service of Remembrance, at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, in Bayeux, France, as part of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

HIS MAJESTY THE KING BECOMES FIRST PATRON OF THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

His Majesty The King has today become Patron of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the first in its history. His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, who has been President of the CWGC since 1970, has today officially passed the Presidency of the organisation over to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is a global organisation, caring for war graves at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries and territories. The CWGC ensures that more than 1.7 million Commonwealth men and women who died during both World Wars are honoured. Since its establishment by Royal Charter, the CWGC has constructed 2,500 war cemeteries and plots, erected headstones over graves and where remains are missing inscribed the names of the dead on permanent memorials.

On a recent state visit to Kenya, the King and Queen visited the Commonwealth War Graves’ Kariokor Cemetery in Nairobi. Their Majesties joined British and Kenyan military personnel in an act of remembrance, before hearing about the Commission’s recent work to ensure all those who supported Britain’s efforts in both World Wars are commemorated.

As the new President of the CWGC, The Princess Royal said:

“In recording and maintaining the graves of the men and women from across the Commonwealth who died during both World Wars, the CWGC plays a significant role in commemorating those who sacrificed so much for our future. Their cemeteries, large or small, always have an impact.

“I am honoured to become President of this organisation and know that I have a challenge in continuing the dedicated work of His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent for over 50 years. Preserving the legacy of those from across the Commonwealth who gave their future in order to preserve ours is a privilege. We will remember them”.

His Royal Highness The Duke Of Kent was appointed President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on 27 February 1970. As President, the Duke of Kent has supported the work of the CWGC and travelled widely to visit their sites including in Australia, France, Belgium, Ireland and Bulgaria.

The Duke of Kent said:

“As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for over 50 years, it has been a privilege and an honour to work closely with those who strive to preserve the legacy and memory of our fallen.

“I look forward to watching on as Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal champions this remarkable organisation which ensures future generations continue to commemorate the sacrifice of the men and women of the Commonwealth”.

Claire Horton CBE, Director General of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), said:

“The CWGC has long benefited from the interest and support of our Royal Family, but today it is doubly wonderful to welcome His Majesty The King as our first Royal Patron, and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as our President.

It is truly a great honour for everyone connected to our remarkable organisation and we look forward to sharing our many exciting plans with them as CWGC takes its place as a global leader in sustainable and inclusive commemoration for all time.

In welcoming our new Patron and President we also wish to give thanks to HRH The Duke of Kent, whose more than 50-year service to the Commission has been instrumental in leaving our organisation fit and able to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Charities Founded by HM The King as The Prince of Wales

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The Prince of Wales meets young women who have been helped by Prince's Trust New Zealand, as he attends a Prince's Trust reception at Mantells, Mt Eden, Auckland, on the third day of the royal visit to New Zealand
The Prince of Wales meets young women who have been helped by Prince's Trust New Zealand, as he attends a Prince's Trust reception at Mantells, Mt Eden, Auckland, on the third day of the royal visit to New Zealand

CHARITIES FOUNDED BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING AS THE PRINCE OF WALES

Following His Majesty The King’s Accession, the below charitable organisations which were founded by His Majesty as the Prince of Wales are announcing today that they will become:

The Prince’s Trust will become The King’s Trust

The King’s Trust was founded by His Majesty as Prince of Wales in 1976. The charity helps young people who have faced disadvantage and adversity to build a better future for themselves, through employment, education and enterprise. Since its formation, the Trust has helped more than a million young people across the UK.

The King’s Trust has operated outside of the UK since 2015, delivering programmes across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East through Prince’s Trust International as well as support through Prince’s Trust Australia, Prince’s Trust Canada, Prince’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, Prince’s Trust USA and Prince’s Trust Group Company. These organisations will also reflect the change to The King’s Trust.

Together the charities deliver education, employability and enterprise programmes to underserved young people and communities in over 20 countries around the world.

The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund will become King Charles III Charitable Fund

King Charles III Charitable Fund was founded in 1979 and awards grants and incubates initiatives to help people and communities to change the world around them. Inspired by His Majesty’s values of harmony and sustainability, the Fund invests in a range of causes including the Environment and Countryside, Social Inclusion, Health and Wellbeing, and Heritage and Education. The Fund is committed to creating lasting improvements to people’s lives and a sustainable future for all.

The Prince’s Foundation will become The King’s Foundation

The King’s Foundation was formed in 1986 and is based at Dumfries House, Ayrshire, and active across Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire, The Castle of Mey in Caithness and sites in London including The Garrison Chapel and Trinity Buoy Wharf. The charity’s focus is on creating communities where people, places and the planet coexist in harmony.

The Foundation’s work aims to educate, inspire and demonstrate how practical knowledge from the past can create sustainable community prosperity in the present. It attracts over a quarter of a million visitors to its houses and gardens each year, delivers life-changing programmes for 15,000 students, and vital health and wellbeing programmes for 2,000 people annually.

His Majesty The King to Host Reception Celebrating Nurses and Midwives

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The Prince of Wales meets with front line health and care workers administering and receiving the Covid-19 vaccine during a visit to the Gloucestershire Vaccination Centre at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
The Prince of Wales meets with front line health and care workers administering and receiving the Covid-19 vaccine during a visit to the Gloucestershire Vaccination Centre at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

HIS MAJESTY THE KING WILL HOST A RECEPTION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO CELEBRATE NURSES AND MIDWIVES WORKING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Tuesday 14th November 2023

His Majesty The King will host a reception to celebrate nurses and midwives working in the United Kingdom. The event will form part of the NHS 75 celebrations and falls on His Majesty’s 75th birthday.

On arrival, His Majesty will greet the Secretary of State for Health, Rt. Hon. Steve Barclay; The Chief Nursing Officer of England, Dame Ruth May; the Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard; the Professional Regulatory Advisor for the Scottish Government, Professor Donna O’Boyle and the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Ireland, Mary Frances McManus.

Approximately 400 nurses and midwives will attend from the multitude of backgrounds and cultures which contribute to the UK’s Health and Social Care Sector. In addition to British nurses and midwives, His Majesty will meet a selection of the 150,000 international nurses and midwives currently working in the United Kingdom including those from India, Philippines, Poland and Kenya. His Majesty will also meet refugee nurses and representatives from International Nursing and Midwifery Associations.

The reception will conclude with a surprise birthday song, performed by the NHS choir.

HM The King to Attend 75th Birthday Party at Highgrove Gardens

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Clarence House have released this image of the Prince of Wales to mark his 73rd birthday, November 2021. Credit Hugo Burnand/PA Wire
Clarence House have released this image of the Prince of Wales to mark his 73rd birthday, November 2021. Credit Hugo Burnand/PA Wire

HIS MAJESTY THE KING WILL ATTEND A 75TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AT HIGHGROVE GARDENS HOSTED BY THE PRINCE’S FOUNDATION

Monday 13th November 2023

To mark His Majesty The King’s 75th birthday, the Prince’s Foundation is hosting a celebratory event at Highgrove Gardens on Monday 13th November for individuals and organisations also turning 75 in 2023. As part of the celebrations, the King will join nominated guests and community champions enjoying live music and afternoon tea, ahead of His Majesty’s own 75th birthday on Tuesday 14th November.

Guests attending the event are local residents who have been nominated by friends, family and neighbours, with the final guest list being chosen by ballot. People were encouraged to nominate individuals to thank them for contributions to their local community, or as an opportunity to socialise and find companionship.

The celebration will also mark other 75th anniversaries taking place this year, including Windrush 75 and the NHS’s 75th anniversary. A similar birthday party will be held for the local community at Dumfries House, ahead of His Majesty’s birthday on Tuesday 14th November.

Hosted in the Orchard Room at Highgrove, the 75th birthday party has been inspired by the Prince’s Foundation’s health and wellbeing programme, which runs monthly tea dances at its Dumfries House headquarters for those at risk of loneliness and social isolation.

The event aims to bring people together to celebrate their 75th birthdays in the beautiful surroundings of Highgrove Gardens, in recognition of their contributions to their communities. His Majesty will join the nominated guests enjoying live music from a local rock choir, as well as an original composition created for the occasion by 14-year-old Bill Goulding, a local gardening enthusiast who regularly visits Highgrove Gardens.

Other special guests at the event will include the Prince’s Foundation Ambassador Jay Blades, as well as sitters from the Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation project, a series of portraits commissioned by the King to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush to the UK.

Her Majesty The Queen Attends Field of Remembrance

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The Duchess of Cornwall places a memorial cross during a service to remember the war dead on Armistice Day at the 93rd Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in London, which has been held in the grounds of the abbey since November 1928. November 11, 2021.
The Duchess of Cornwall places a memorial cross during a service to remember the war dead on Armistice Day at the 93rd Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey in London, which has been held in the grounds of the abbey since November 1928. November 11, 2021.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN ATTENDS THE 95TH FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Thursday 9th November 2023

Her Majesty The Queen will attend the 95th year of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.

In 1928, Major George Howson MC suggested using land outside Westminster Abbey as a place where anyone could plant a poppy in memory of a loved one. This established a Remembrance tradition which has continued for 95 years.

Upon arrival, the Queen will be greeted by the Dean of Westminster Abbey, the Very Reverend David Hoyle. Dr Hoyle will invite Her Majesty to meet several members of abbey staff, the National President of the Royal British Legion, Vice Admiral Sir Clive Johnstone, and the President of the Poppy Factory, Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis.

Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis will invite the Queen to stand in front of the Cross of Remembrance and prayers will be offered by the Dean of Westminster and the Canon-in-Residence, after which Her Majesty will be invited to lay a Cross of Remembrance.

This is followed by the ‘Exhortation to Remembrance’ and the chimes of Big Ben at 1100hrs.

After a two-minute silence, the Queen will be invited to meet the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP, and a short line-up of staff and supporters of the Poppy Factory.

Admiral Jarvis will then invite Her Majesty to review the plots for regimental and other associations.

Moving inside St. Margaret’s Church, the Queen will be invited to sign the visitors’ book and meet members of the clergy before departing.

Field of Remembrance

The Field of Remembrance has been organised by the Poppy Factory and held in the grounds of Westminster Abbey since November 1928, to commemorate those who have lost their lives serving in the Armed Forces.

Ex-service men and women, as well as members of the public, can plant a cross or a symbol carrying a personal message in memory of those who have lost their lives in the service of others. This year there are 308 plots including plots that Her Majesty is associated with including The Rifles, The Royal Lancers, The Grenadier Guards, The Royal Army Champlain’s Department, The Submariner Association (HMS Astute).

Royal Family to Attend Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

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Members of the Armed forces take part during the rehearsals at the Royal Albert Hall in London, for the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance, November 12, 2021.
Members of the Armed forces take part during the rehearsals at the Royal Albert Hall in London, for the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance, November 12, 2021.

THE KING AND QUEEN, AND MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, WILL ATTEND THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Saturday 11th November 2023

Their Majesties The King and Queen, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family, will attend the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 11th November 2023.

This year’s festival will mark 80 years since the Battle of the Atlantic and the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. The festival is an opportunity for the nation to say thank you to all who served, and to those who sacrificed their lives.

In tribute to the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush’s arrival, this year’s festival will also honour the extraordinary contributions made by the Windrush generation to the military.

On arrival at the Royal Albert Hall, the King and Queen will unveil a statue of Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, before attending the festival. The new sculptures of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were commissioned by the Royal Albert Hall to mark their 150th anniversary celebrations.

Members of the Royal Family who will be attending the festival this year include:

The Prince and Princess of Wales

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

The Duke of Kent

The Festival of Remembrance will be broadcast at 2100hrs GMT on BBC One on the evening of 11th November.

Members of the Royal Family to Mark Remembrance 2023

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Remembrance Sunday wreaths at the Cenotaph, November 2022
Remembrance Sunday wreaths at the Cenotaph, November 2022

Members of the Royal Family will attend engagements to mark Remembrance in 2023

09 November 2023

The programme for Royal Remembrance events 2023 is as follows:

Wednesday 8th November 2023

The Duke of Edinburgh carried out military engagements in Telford. His Royal Highness concluded the day at a reception at Dawley Town Hall for veterans and local groups supporting the Armed Forces community.

Thursday 9th November 2023

The Queen will attend the 95th year of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.

Saturday 11th November 2023

The Princess Royal will attend The National Memorial Arboretum Armistice Day Service in Staffordshire.

The King and Queen will attend the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Festival will also be attended by The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent.

The Festival of Remembrance will be broadcast at 2100hrs GMT on BBC One on the evening of 11th November.

Sunday 12th November 2023

The King and Queen will attend the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will also attend the Service.

The King will lay a wreath, the design of which closely resembles the wreath produced for HM King George VI. The wreath’s 41 open style poppy petals are made from bonded fabric and mounted on an arrangement of black leaves, as is traditional for the Sovereign. The wreath’s ribbon bears The King’s racing colours; scarlet, purple and gold. The Royal racing colours were also incorporated into the Wreaths of King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen will view the Service from the Centre Balcony of the FCDO. On Her Majesty’s behalf, her equerry Major Ollie Plunket, The Rifles, will lay a wreath which closely resembles the wreath produced for HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Its 95 closed style poppy petals are made from bonded fabric and the Wreath will bear the colours from HM The Queen’s racing silk – brown, red and yellow.

The King and Queen’s wreaths have been produced by The Poppy Factory.

The Prince of Wales will lay a wreath featuring The Prince of Wales plumes. The wreath will bear a ribbon in Welsh red.

Following the Service, The Princess Royal will take the Salute at the March Past of Veteran Organisations on Horse Guards Parade.

The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph will be broadcast at 1015hrs GMT on BBC One on the morning of 12th November.

His Majesty to Visit Korean Community in New Malden

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Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen via videolink from Windsor Castle, where she is in residence, during a virtual audience to receive the Ambassador from the Republic of Korea, Gunn Kim, accompanied by HeeJung Lee (left), at Buckingham Palace, London, October 2021.
Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen via videolink from Windsor Castle, where she is in residence, during a virtual audience to receive the Ambassador from the Republic of Korea, Gunn Kim, accompanied by HeeJung Lee (left), at Buckingham Palace, London, October 2021.

HIS MAJESTY THE KING WILL VISIT THE KOREAN COMMUNITY IN NEW MALDEN, SURREY

Wednesday 8th November 2023

His Majesty The King will visit New Malden on Wednesday, 8th November to spend time with the area’s Korean community, ahead of the state visit by the President of the Republic of Korea and the First Lady later this month.

The King will meet community groups at New Malden Methodist Church and hear about Korea’s culture and cuisine, before visiting a stall showcasing a selection of Korean specialities. His Majesty will also visit the nearby Cake & Bing Soo Shop to meet young Koreans.

Before departing, ahead of Remembrance Day, the King will visit New Malden War Memorial and meet members of the local Royal British Legion branch.

On arrival at New Malden Methodist Church, the King will meet the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UK, His Excellency Yeocheol Yoon, as well as local council representatives including the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston.

Once inside the church, His Majesty will meet representatives from community, cultural, culinary and faith groups based in New Malden and the surrounding area, including the Korean Residents Society, the Korean Restaurant and Supermarkets Association and local faith leaders.

The King will view an exhibition on the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, organised by the Korean British Cultural Exchange in collaboration with Kingston Museum.

His Majesty will also stop at a presentation of Korean food in the church, where a variety of items will be on display. The King will also watch a contemporary dance performance and listen to the local London Korean Hummingbirds Choir sing a traditional song ‘Beautiful Country’.

Finally, the King will meet a group of residents representing the diversity of the communities living in New Malden.

After visiting the church, the King will stop into nearby Korean-owned cake shop, Cake & Bing Soo, to meet young Koreans who live in the local area. Before departing, His Majesty will be presented with a special cake by the owner of Cake & Bing Soo.

Finally, ahead of Remembrance Sunday, His Majesty will visit New Malden War Memorial and meet local representatives from the Royal British Legion.

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has one of the largest expatriate communities of Koreans in Europe, particularly focused around the New Malden area, which is sometimes described as Koreatown. It is reputed to be one of the most densely populated areas of Koreans outside South Korea.

There are estimated to be around 10,000 Koreans in New Malden itself and up to 20,000 Koreans living in surrounding areas. As well as the Korean population, New Malden also has a substantial wider Southeast Asian population and is the most ethnically diverse area in the borough.

A number of reasons are cited to explain why New Malden has such a significant Korean community. Lord Chancellor’s Walk in Coombe Lane West in New Malden previously served as the original residence of the Ambassador of South Korea to the United Kingdom. Samsung Electronics also had its UK offices in New Malden until 2005. A combination of these factors seems to have led many Koreans to settle in New Malden in the 1970s.

The New Malden and wider Kingston area is notable for the number and prominence of Korean businesses and community amenities. These include Korean language churches and nursery schools as well as restaurants and shops. New Malden functions as the shopping and cultural centre for a Korean population spread more widely across southwest London and the neighbouring counties, with Korean supermarkets and more than 20 Korean restaurants and cafes.

Kingston Council works closely with local community organisations to ensure that the Korean contribution to the diverse life of the borough is celebrated. These organisations include the Korean British Cultural Exchange, The Korea Town Foundation, the Korean Resident Society, the North Korean Residents Society, Korean Senior Citizens CIC, Korean Culture & Arts Centre, the London Korean School and the New Malden Town Centre Partnership.

In January 2023, the Royal Borough of Kingston became the first place in Europe to declare 22 November as Kimchi Day, to be celebrated annually. This was intended both as a reflection on the central role the Korean communities play in the cultural life of the borough and an appropriate way to celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and the United Kingdom.

The Princess of Wales to Visit 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards

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The Princess of Wales talks to Anna O'Hara, left, President of Nottingham Trent Students' Union and Jess Nuthall, right, Union Development Officer University of Nottingham during a visit to Nottingham Trent University to learn about their mental health support system in Nottingham, England, Oct. 11, 2023.
The Princess of Wales talks to Anna O'Hara, left, President of Nottingham Trent Students' Union and Jess Nuthall, right, Union Development Officer University of Nottingham during a visit to Nottingham Trent University to learn about their mental health support system in Nottingham, England, Oct. 11, 2023.

THE PRINCESS OF WALES TO VISIT 1ST THE QUEEN’S DRAGOON GUARDS

Swanton Morley

Wednesday 8th November 2023

The Princess of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, will visit the regiment for the first time on Wednesday 8th November.

The Princess was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (QDG) by His Majesty The King in August this year. This visit will allow Her Royal Highness to receive a brief introduction into the regiment and the operations they carry out, as well as meet families of QDG who live nearby.

The QDG have been active for over 300 years, having been formed in 1959 from the amalgamation of the two senior Cavalry regiments, 1st King’s Dragoon Guards and The Queen’s Bays. The QDG specialise in reconnaissance: the art of seeking out the enemy and understanding how they operate.

Since their formation, the QDG have moved all over the world and most recently, from June 2021 to June 2022, were deployed to Mali as part of a peacekeeping operation in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission.

During the visit, Her Royal Highness will receive a brief on the regiment from senior officers and will have the opportunity to experience elements of what operational life is like for servicemen and women. This will include learning about the Jackal 2 high mobility weapons platform, seeing how the team communicate via radios when deployed, and how they utilise reconnaissance drones.

Following this, the Princess will meet families of QDG personnel to hear about their experiences and the welfare support that is offered by the regiment. Her Royal Highness will also award Long Service & Good Conduct medals to a number of servicemen and women in the regiment, and ahead of Remembrance Sunday, will take a moment with serving personnel to remember those that the QDG have lost in active service in recent years.

Finally, the Princess will promote the Regimental Mascot (Trooper ‘Longface’ Emrys Jones, a Bay Welsh Mountain Pony) from ‘Lance Corporal’ to ‘Corporal’.

The King and Queen to Host Humanitarian Reception

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a reception at Mansion House in London, Oct. 18, 2023.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a reception at Mansion House in London, Oct. 18, 2023.

THE KING AND QUEEN WILL HOST A HUMANITARIAN RECEPTION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Wednesday 8th November 2023

Their Majesties The King and Queen will host a reception at Buckingham Palace to recognise and reflect on the United Kingdom’s contribution to humanitarian efforts across the world.

The King and Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Gloucester, will be joined by guests to thank those who have worked towards the United Kingdom’s contribution to humanitarianism, including in recognition of 60 years of the Disasters Emergency Committee.

The reception will showcase the human stories of those involved in the sector, from fundraisers to frontline workers, and those who have been impacted by crises, including communities seeking to protect their cultural heritage, and refugees building new lives in the U.K.

Among those to be introduced to Their Majesties are the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Chief Executive Mr Saleh Saeed, and high-profile supporters such as Dame Joanna Lumley, Sir Michael Palin and Mr Adrian Lester, who have launched appeals for the charity, as they mark their 60th anniversary year.

The King and Queen will meet refugees who have left difficult situations around the world and have since made the UK their home. Their Majesties will also be introduced to a selection of broadcast journalists to hear about their work in covering global emergencies, including in the Middle East and Ukraine.

In the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace, Their Majesties will have an opportunity to view displays from the Disasters Emergency Committee, Turquoise Mountain and ShelterBox and meet some of those who have supported the significant work of these organisations.

The Disasters Emergency Committee will showcase a selection of aid items they provide in a crisis or emergency. The items include easy to put up hand-washing stations, Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), solar powered lights, a dignity kit to help women and girls manage their personal hygiene and supermarket/ cash vouchers to allow people to prioritise their own needs.

A display table from Turquoise Mountain will showcase examples of craftsmanship including handwoven carpets, woodwork and jewellery made by master artisans (some of whom are refugees) who have faced humanitarian disasters. Artisans from Afghanistan and Syria who made these pieces will be attending the reception.

From ShelterBox, Their Majesties will hear how the charity provides emergency shelter to communities after disaster, and view lifesaving aid items including items such as solar lights and water filters.

Afterwards, Their Majesties will join the reception to meet fundraisers, volunteers and supporters of a range of organisations, including; ActionAid UK, Action Against Hunger, British Red Cross, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Christian Aid, David Nott Foundation, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam, Refugee Action, The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, UNICEF, Welsh Refugee Council and World Jewish Relief.

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