SOVEREIGN GRANT REPORT 2018-19

The Royal Household today published its annual financial statement, the Sovereign Grant Report, for the financial year 2018-19. The Sovereign Grant is the funding provided to support the official duties of The Queen and maintain the Occupied Royal Palaces. It also includes a dedicated amount to fund the ten-year Reservicing of Buckingham Palace.

The key financial details reported today are:

• The total Sovereign Grant for 2018-19, including the dedicated amount for Reservicing, amounted to £82.2m (2017-18 £76.1m), equivalent to £1.24 per person in the UK.
• The £82.2m Grant is made up of a Core Grant of £49.3m and an additional dedicated amount for Reservicing of £32.9m.
• Additional income generated from facilities management charges and property rental increased to £17.8m (2017-18 £17.3m), up 3%.
• The official expenditure in the year met by the Sovereign Grant was £67million, up 41% (2017-18 £47.4m), primarily due to higher levels of spending on property, including £14.1m on Reservicing and £25.1m on maintenance from the Core Grant.
• £15.2m was transferred to the Sovereign Grant reserve (2017-18 £28.7m) to fund future phases of the Reservicing of Buckingham Palace.

Other key data for 2018-19:

• Over 3,200 official engagements across the UK and overseas undertaken by members of the Royal Family.
• Over 160,000 guests welcomed at Royal Palaces at events such as garden parties and investitures.
• Over 7.9m people saw items from the Royal Collection Trust in Royal Palaces.

Reflecting on the year 2018-19, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Michael Stevens, said:

“The year under review has been another busy period for the Royal Household with The Queen undertaking 140 official engagements in the United Kingdom, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting at Buckingham Palace and the visit of the President of the United States to Windsor. In addition, the programme of other Members of the Royal Family who support The Queen helped the Royal Family deliver over 3,200 official engagements across the UK and overseas.”

In 2018-19, the Sovereign Grant also included a dedicated amount to fund the Reservicing of Buckingham Palace; the second year of a major ten-year project to future proof the building’s essential services. This followed a report to HM Treasury identifying that the building’s infrastructure was in urgent need of an overhaul to avoid the very real danger of catastrophic failure.

Key Reservicing progress in 2018-19 included:

• Members of the Royal Family and all staff moving out of the East Wing, along with the decant of over 3,000 works of art, leaving this area of the building unoccupied – in preparation for reservicing, which will include the replacement of electrical and mechanical infrastructure, and the provision of new lifts to improve accessibility.
• The building of a compound for contractors working on the Reservicing project on the Palace forecourt.
• The strip-out of the Palace’s main boiler room to prepare for the installation of the new energy centre.
• Conversion of space on the upper floor of the West Wing to a new open plan office space for approximately 100 people.
• Authorised or contracted commitments for works over the next five years amounting to £85m.

Reflecting on the Reservicing programme, Sir Michael added:

“The ten year Reservicing programme presents a unique opportunity for innovation and investment in one of the world’s most prestigious and iconic historic buildings, thereby preserving it for future generations. The work is sequenced so as to enable the Palace to remain occupied and fully operational and The Queen’s programme to continue to be delivered without interruption.”

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF ROTHESAY, WILL ATTEND A CEREMONY TO MARK THE 20^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

SATURDAY 29^TH JUNE 2019

Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay, will attend a Ceremony to mark the 20^th Anniversary of the Scottish Parliament. The Queen and The Duke of Rothesay will arrive at the Queensberry House entrance to the Scottish Parliament and will be met in the courtyard by the Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, the Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers before continuing inside to the Garden Lobby. In the lobby, HM and HRH will meet Party and Parliamentary Leaders ahead of the Ceremony in the Debating Chamber.

The Mace and the Crown of Scotland will be carried into the Debating Chamber in procession to a Fanfare sounded by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The Presiding Officer will open the meeting of Parliament and Her Majesty will then respond with an address to the Scottish Parliament. After The Queen’s speech, there will be speeches by the party leaders. Following the ceremonial proceedings in the Debating Chamber, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will attend a reception in the Main Hall and sign the visitor’s book before departing the Scottish Parliament.

Further details of the Ceremony to mark the 20^th Anniversary will be announced by the Scottish Parliament in due course.

The Duke of Sussex will attend The Diana Award National Youth Mentoring Summit

Tuesday, 2nd July 2019

The Duke of Sussex will attend The Diana Award National Youth Mentoring Summit at Banking Hall on Tuesday 2nd July 2019.

The UK’s first National Youth Mentoring Summit will bring together young people, sector leaders and industry experts alongside business professionals and government officials to shine a light on mentoring. The summit will aim to redefine the conversation around mentoring and its potential to change trajectories for young people, businesses and communities.

The Diana Award recognises that mentoring is fundamental to breaking down the barriers of social mobility in the lives of vulnerable young people and can help them develop the practical skills that they need in order to achieve their goals. Through its summit The Diana Award aims to promote the benefits of making high quality mentoring programmes accessible to all and break the stereotypical view of who a mentor can be. Guests attending will have the opportunity to hear from young people whose lives have been changed through mentoring and the impact this can have on the local and global community.

The Duke believes that every child should be given the opportunity and support they need to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background or situation. Through a programme of public and private visits, His Royal Highness regularly supports projects that enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to build their skills and confidence.

On arrival The Duke will meet with young people who will share their experiences of being mentees and meet with representatives from organisations who have seen the business benefits of becoming mentors. His Royal Highness will then listen to a panel discussion on the real-life barriers young people encounter and the role of businesses in shaping communities through mentoring. The Duke will then deliver remarks.

The Diana Award was set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world. The charity fosters, develops and inspires positive change in the lives of young people through three key programmes which include; a mentoring programme for young people at risk, a youth-led anti-bullying ambassadors campaign and a prestigious award which publicly recognises young people – The Diana Award.

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HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN WILL ATTEND THE CEREMONY OF THE KEYS AT THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE, EDINBURGH

FRIDAY 28^TH JUNE, 2019 

Her Majesty The Queen will attend the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Friday, 28th June, 2019. The Guard of Honour will be F Coy Scots Guards. Pipes and Drums will be provided by 1st Battalion, Scots Guards and music by the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The Scots Guards is Scotland’s Regiment of Foot Guards. Since its formation more than 375 years ago, the Scots Guards has forged a reputation as one of the toughest fighting units in the British Army. As a mechanised regiment, it uses Mastiff and Jackal 2 armoured vehicles to engage enemy troops.

F Company is the regiment’s ceremonial company and has the special honour of acting as guards at royal residences such as Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. They act as the permanent public duties element and are based at Wellington Barracks, London. All new Scots Guardsmen passing out of training are posted to F Company, they then go on to join the Battalion based in Aldershot. Their traditional uniform – a red tunic and bearskin hat – is famous the world over. The Scots Guards’ bearskin have no plume and their tunic buttons are grouped in threes.

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HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN WILL VISIT GREEENFAULDS HIGH SCHOOL, CUMBERNAULD

FRIDAY 28^TH JUNE, 2019

On arrival at Greenfaulds High School, Her Majesty will be met by the Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire and the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire before moving to the central atrium where there will be a Gaelic welcome by senior pupils from the school.

The Queen will be invited to view an exhibition and the headteacher, together with local historians, will explain the school’s history. Her Majesty will meet teachers and Service Staff and view a performance by North Lanarkshire Schools’ Pipe Band on the athletic track before presenting two Provost Community Recognition awards.

Her Majesty will then return inside the school to the auditorium where there will be a Gaelic poetry recital by a pupil from Condorrat Primary School and a Gaelic song will be performed by pupils from East Dunbartonshire String Ensemble.

Before departing, The Queen will present awards to pupils and staff before receiving a posy and unveiling a plaque to mark the visit.

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The Duke of Sussex will attend the Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees baseball game in support of the Invictus Games Foundation

Saturday, 29th June 2019

The Duke of Sussex will attend the first game of the Major League Baseball (MLB) London Series at London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday 29th June. The Invictus Games Foundation, of which His Royal Highness is Patron, has been selected as charity partner for the 2019 series.

This is the first time that Major League Baseball are hosting two regular season games in Europe. The series will feature two of MLB’s most famous teams – the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.

MLB recently announced that the Invictus Games Foundation will be an Official Charity Partner of the Mitel & MLB Present London Series 2019. The Invictus Games Foundation is the international charity that oversees the development of the Invictus Games, an international adaptive multi-sport event in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and veterans participate. It celebrates the power of sport in recovery and how it can help, physically or psychologically, those suffering from injuries or illness. As part of the partnership, the Invictus Games Foundation have a team participating in London’s Softball60, the social softball series built for the city and targeted to introduce the sport to new audiences and demonstrate that it is an inclusive sport.

On arrival, The Duke will meet the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in their respective clubhouses before attending a short reception with UK and US former Invictus Games competitors and their family and friends. The Duke will then accompany Invictus Games competitors onto the pitch as they throw out the first pitch, before watching part of the game.

The Invictus Games is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women – both serving and veterans. It uses the power of sport and the Invictus Spirit to inspire recovery, support the rehabilitation of wounded injured and sick Servicemen and women and veterans and improve their life beyond injury. Following the London 2014, Orlando 2016, Toronto 2017, and Sydney 2018 Games, The Hague will host the fifth Invictus Games in May 2020. The Invictus Games Foundation manages the process of selecting the hosts of future games and oversees their delivery. The Foundation also seeks to provide competitors past and present with opportunities in all areas of life to help them develop new skills and allow them to engage fully in society.

Major League Baseball is the most historic professional sports league in the United States and consists of 30 member clubs in the U.S. and Canada, representing the highest level of professional baseball. Major League Baseball is the best-attended sport in North America, and since 2004, MLB has enjoyed its best-attended seasons in the history of the game.

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New charity structures for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex has today announced the conclusions of a review into its structure, and how it will best support Their Royal Highnesses with future charitable activity.

Later this year The Royal Foundation will become the principal charitable and philanthropic vehicle for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will establish their own new charitable foundation with transitional operating support from The Royal Foundation. In addition both couples will continue to work together on projects in the future, including on The Foundation’s mental health programme, Heads Together.

These changes are designed to best complement the work and responsibilities of Their Royal Highnesses as they prepare for their future roles, and to better align their charitable activity with their new households.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are incredibly proud of what they have achieved together through The Royal Foundation. They are especially proud to have established a charity that has had, and will continue to have, significant long-lasting impact, changing lives for the better.

Whether through the establishment of The Invictus Games, changing the national conversation on mental health through Heads Together, or setting up Shout, the UK’s first text-based crisis support service, The Foundation’s innovative ethos, ability to convene, and its incubator style has proven to be incredibly powerful and successful.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wish to build on The Foundation’s past successes, continuing programmes such as ‘Heads Up’, the new mental health campaign delivered in partnership with the FA, ‘United for Wildlife’ which runs a global taskforce tackling the illegal wildlife trade, and ‘Mentally Healthy Schools’ which supports teachers and staff improve child mental health. They are also developing new initiatives on the environment and support for children and families which The Foundation expects to announce in the coming year.

Swan Upping 2019

Swan Upping, the annual census of the swan population on the River Thames, has been announced by The Queen’s Swan Marker, David Barber.

This year, Swan Upping will begin on Monday 15th July, departing from Sunbury lock cut and will finish at Abingdon Bridge, Oxfordshire on Friday 19th July.

Announcing the schedule for Swan Upping, David Barber said:

“I am pleased to see that the breeding season has begun very well this year with a high level of nesting activity on the river.

We are delighted that so many members of the public keep a watchful eye on the swans although sadly there continues to be an increasing incidence of nests destroyed and adult swans and their cygnets killed as a result of dog attacks. We again urge members of the public to keep their dogs on a lead and under control in the vicinity of nesting swans and other infant wildlife when walking along the river bank or near lakes.

There will be many schools visiting Swan Upping once again this year as we continue to encourage the education of children about swan welfare, the river, the traditional boats we use and the impact of human activity on our wildlife.”

Local schools seeking further information about Swan Upping week should contact the Swan Marker’s office on 01628 523030 or email info@royalswan.co.uk.

The observation points and times are as follows (all times given are approximate):

Monday 15th July 2019

Sunbury 09.00 – Departure point
Shepperton Lock 10.15
Penton Hook Lock 12.30
Romney Lock 17.30

Tuesday 16th July 2019

Eton Bridge 08.30 – Departure point
Boveney Lock 09.15
Boulters Lock 12.30
Cookham Bridge 13.30
Marlow Lock 17.30

Wednesday 17th July 2019

Marlow Bridge 09.00 – Departure point
Hurley Lock 10.30
Hambleden Lock 12.00
Henley Town 13.15
Marsh Lock 15.30
Shiplake Lock 17.00
Sonning Bridge 18.00

Thursday 18th July 2019

Sonning-on-Thames 09.00 – Departure point
Caversham Lock 10.15
Mapledurham Lock 12.00
Goring Lock 17.00
Moulsford 18.00

Friday 19th July 2019

Moulsford 09.00 – Departure point
Benson Lock 10.00
Clifton Hampden Bridge 13.00
Culham Lock 16.15
Abingdon Bridge 17.00

The ceremony of Swan Upping takes place during the third week of July every year. Swan Upping dates from the twelfth century, when The Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans which were considered an important food for banquets and feasts. Today The Crown retains the right of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen mainly exercises this right on certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries. This ownership is shared with the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies who were granted rights of ownership by The Crown in the fifteenth century.

The Queen’s Swan Marker and the accompanying Swan Uppers of the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies use six traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey upstream to Abingdon. By tradition scarlet uniforms are worn by The Queen’s Swan Marker and Swan Uppers, and each boat flies the appropriate flag and pennant. In recent years, both Her Majesty The Queen and Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal have travelled up the River Thames to witness the historic ceremony.

It has always been the duty of the Sovereign’s Swan Marker to count the number of young cygnets each year and ensure that the swan population is maintained. The cygnets are weighed and measured to obtain estimates of growth rates and the birds are examined for any sign of injury, commonly caused by fishing hook and line. With the assistance of The Queen’s Swan Warden, Professor Christopher Perrins of the University of Oxford, the swans and young cygnets are also assessed for any signs of disease. The cygnets are ringed with individual identification numbers by The Queen’s Swan WardenThe Queen’s Swan Marker produces an annual report after Swan Upping detailing the number of swans, broods and cygnets counted during the week.

The Queen’s Swan Marker also advises organisations across the country about swan welfare, gives presentations to local schools and charities, and monitors the health of the local swan population. The Queen’s Swan Marker works closely with swan rescue organisations, supervises the rescue of sick and injured swans and advises fishing and boating organisations about how to work with wildlife.

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THE QUEEN WILL HOST A RECEPTION TO RECOGNISE THE WORK OF FAITH GROUPS BRINGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TOGETHER

Tuesday, 25th June 2019

Her Majesty The Queen will give a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 25th June to celebrate the work of UK faith and belief groups in bringing local communities together.

Across the UK, individuals of all faiths and beliefs are working at grassroots and community level to support their local neighbourhoods and bring together different backgrounds and ethnicities.

Among those invited are representatives of different faiths and beliefs from across the UK, including volunteers, community workers, and those promoting social cohesion within their neighbourhood.

The reception will recognise those bringing about positive change in their local neighbourhoods and celebrate the work being done to support people of all ages and backgrounds. This includes supporting young people to make positive life choices, bringing people together through cooking, providing food and clothing to the homeless, and supporting refugees and asylum seekers.

As Head of the Nation and Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty recognises and celebrates religious diversity in the UK and throughout the Commonwealth.

In 2016, The Cinnamon Network compiled a Faith Action Audit which valued the time given by churches and other faith groups to their communities at more than £3 billion each year, supporting over 49 million people.

A report by New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) found that more than a quarter of all charities in the United Kingdom have an association with faith.

Near Neighbours run by the Church Urban Fund, is a government funded programme working in some of the most diverse and disadvantaged areas in England to bring together local people from different faiths and ethnic backgrounds to improve communities. Near Neighbours provides small grants to support local, grassroots projects and has funded 1,433 projects across England, all of which have at least two faith or belief groups working together. The programme also has a network of national partners to provide training, expertise and resources and has hubs and coordinators across England.

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A speech delivered by The Duke of Sussex at the Chatham House Africa Programme event

Thank you Honourable Minister, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s a pleasure in joining you to focus on such an important collaborative goal.

This event is the culmination of a great effort by many people to progress the vital mission of de-mining Angola – and putting it back on the map as a tourist destination.

Angola has some of the world’s most important remaining wilderness that is critical to biodiversity and an asset that should be protected, celebrated and benefitted by its people.

The ambition of the partners gathered here to create a safer environment for communities and wildlife for the success of the country is to be applauded.

I first visited Chatham House in June 2017 to take part in a scenario planning exercise – some of you in the room today were here with me.

That exercise showed me the importance of landmine clearance within a humanitarian emergency because, let’s not forget, land mines are a humanitarian issue NOT a political one.

That exercise was especially interesting for me because I had the privilege in 2013 of visiting Angola with The HALO Trust.

In Cuando Cubango, in the far southeast of what is a vast, beautiful country, I saw a struggling community in a deserted landscape unable to make use of the land, yet the potential to turn this land into a sustainable source for its people.

In fact I was told just the other day of the positive transformation in Huambo since my mother walked that minefield all those years ago.

What is less well-known is the impact landmines can have on conservation and wildlife, and therefore the economy. We’ve heard how this is especially the case in the national parks and wilderness areas of southeast Angola, including the precious and again vital watershed of the Okavango Delta.

This unique ecosystem is one of the great wildlife refuges of the world – enriching its biodiversity for all of humanity. My hope is that through this collaboration, minefields can be cleared, land can be protected,  wildlife can be free to return to where they once roamed, and Angolans can reap the rewards by coexisting with the one constant that will draw people in from all over the world –  the extraordinary setting that they call home.

Angola is an important example of a country leading the way in clearing the remnants of war to secure a better future for its people and its environment – it has been a long journey, one full of heartache and frustration I’m sure, but now with the optimism and encouragement from your Government Minister, I truly believe that Angola will become a shining example to the rest of the continent.

The funding announced today will help protect human lives and is the first step in allowing local communities to protect wildlife through the kind of conservation-led development that has been so crucial elsewhere on the continent.

Considerable progress has been made but there is still a huge amount to do, which is why it encourages me to see so many of you here today as we shine a light on the work that’s been done, but also how we can help moving forward. The fact that demining funding has been reduced by nearly 90% over the last decade is pretty shocking and we hope that today will encourage those countries not to leave a job left half done. As long as landmines are in the ground in Angola we aren’t really giving them a chance. There is an end in sight which has already been discussed, and that isn’t always the case. So let’s make the most of this opportunity.

I hope you will all join me in thanking the Government of Angola for this significant commitment to supporting its communities, its wildlife, and the bio-diversity of this planet.