Many people consider supporting charities to be one of the most important jobs of the Royal Family in a modern day United Kingdom. Having a member of the Royal Family as a patron of your charity means that people are more likely to hear about them, and in some cases more likely to donate just because of the Royal association.
At the time of her passing, Queen Elizabeth was patron to over 600 charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organisations, and the Royal Family as a whole are patrons to over 1,000 registered UK charities.
Queen Elizabeth herself was patron to some of the UKs largest charities, such as Cancer Research UK, British Red Cross and Barnado’s, but also to lesser known charitable organisations like the National Horseracing Museum, the Sandringham Women's Institute, and even the Highland Cattle Society.
When Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952, she automatically inherited 433 patronages from her father, King George VI. For example, the then HRH The Duke of York founded Fields in Trust in 1925, and after his passing the patronage passed on to his daughter, HM Queen Elizabeth II. The patronage to the Mothers’ Union was actually established in 1898 under Queen Victoria, and has been passed from Monarch to Monarch to this day!
Just as the patronages were once handed down to Queen Elizabeth from her father, the majority of her patronages will now be handed down to her successor and son, His Majesty King Charles III. However some of the patronages may be distributed to other members of the Royal Family if it is deemed more appropriate. As the Prince of Wales, King Charles was already patron of over 420 charities himself, and so he may choose to keep some of these patronages himself, and others he will likely pass down to the new Prince of Wales, Prince William.
The monarchy has held patronages for approximately 900 years, attracting much needed publicity and funds to thousands of charities, and long may it continue.
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