Charities and Patronages
Charities and Patronages
While The Duchess of Cornwall supports The Prince in his work and role as Heir to the Throne, she also works for a number of her own charities in her role as Patron or President.
Her Royal Highness’s charity work is varied but several themes prevail: health and well-being, promoting literacy, helping those in need, Cornwall-based charities, heritage and the arts, and animal welfare.
In recent years, Her Royal Highness has also been keen to raise the difficult issue of sexual assault after speaking to women at a rape crisis centre in Croydon. The Duchess has done this through a number of low-key visits to rape crisis centres to meet with staff and clients who use the confidential services.
Health and well-being
The Duchess is President of the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS). Her Royal Highness has worked for many years to promote understanding and raise awareness of osteoporosis, a devastating brittle bone disease that affects one in two women and one in five men in the UK.
The Duchess’s mother, Mrs Rosalind Shand, was 72 when she died in 1994 as a result of osteoporosis. The Duchess’s grandmother had died from the same condition eight years earlier.
Her Royal Highness has been President of the National Osteoporosis Society since 2001, and was Patron between 1997 and 2001.
During that time she has visited many bone units and hospitals across the country, meeting patients, showing support for local fundraisers and opening new bone scanners.
The Duchess is also President of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, an innovative charity with a number of centres in the UK that provide a supportive and caring environment for people with cancer.
In addition, The Duchess of Cornwall is Patron of the following health-related charities: Royal National Hospital For Rheumatic Diseases, The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, Trinity Hospice and Helen & Douglas House, which looks after children and young adults with life-shortening conditions.
Literacy
An avid reader herself, Her Royal Highness has been keen to promote the benefits of reading both to children and adults alike. She has read aloud to children on several occasions, and has met adult readers keen to improve their reading skills.
The Duchess is Patron of the National Literacy Trust, BookTrust and First Story, all of which help to promote literacy in young people.
Helping those in need
The Duchess is Patron of Emmaus, a charity that provides homeless people of all ages with a home, work and the chance to rebuild their self-respect in a supportive, community environment. She usually visits Emmaus communities before Christmas each year.
The Duchess of Cornwall is President of the children's charity Barnardo’s. With 415 projects across the UK, Barnardo’s is a charity that supports children who have been affected by all kinds of issues, from drug misuse to disability, youth crime to mental health, sexual abuse to domestic violence and poverty to homelessness.
Animal welfare
The Duchess’s personal interest in animals and their welfare is reflected in her patronages. With an enduring affection for horses and ponies, Her Royal Highness is Patron of the Moorland Mousie Trust which promotes and conserves the Exmoor Pony, Patron of The British Equestrian Foundation and is President of the Brooke Hospital for Animals.
The Duchess is also Patron of the Animal Care Trust (under the umbrella of The Royal Veterinary College) and the Langford Trust for Animal Health and Welfare, which is a charity that supports the University of Bristol Veterinary School to promote the practice, advancement and teaching of veterinary science.
Cornwall-based charities
As The Duchess of Cornwall, Her Royal Highness is Patron of charities specific to the South West, such as the Cornwall Community Foundation and the Public Catalogue Foundation's Cornish Catalogue.
In August 2007 The Duchess of Cornwall became President of ShelterBox, a registered UK charity based in Cornwall that provides emergency aid for victims of natural and other disasters anywhere in the world.
Her Royal Highness first met workers for the charity during a visit to the earthquake-hit villages of Pakistan in November 2006 and was so impressed by the charity’s innovative disaster relief work that she has supported it ever since.
Heritage and the Arts
Like The Prince of Wales, The Duchess takes a keen interest in heritage and is Patron of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust, Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, Ditchling Museum, the Fan Museum and Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.
The Duchess is a great supporter of the arts and regularly attends concerts and theatre shows with The Prince of Wales. These are often fundraising events for charities with which Their Royal Highnesses are affiliated.
The Duchess is Patron of the London Chamber Orchestra, St Johns, Smith Square, the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra, and the Theatre Royal Bath.
Patronages
Animal Care Trust (under the umbrella of The Royal Veterinary College)
Patron (from 12/09/2005)
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Barnardo's
President (from 03/10/2007)
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British Equestrian Federation
Patron (from 06/04/2006)
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BookTrust
Patron (from 06/06/2011)
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Brooke Hospital for Animals
President (from 01/11/2006)
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Carmarthen Youth Opera
Patron (from 07/06/2010)
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CleanupUK
President (from 05/05/2011)
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Community First
Patron (from 31/07/2005)
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Cornish Air Ambulance Service
Patron (from January 2011)
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Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs
Joint Patron with The Prince of Wales (from 28/03/2011)
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Cornwall Community Foundation
Patron (from 12/09/2005)
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Cowbridge Physic Garden Trust
Patron (from 14/10/2008)
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Crathie Opportunity Holidays
Patron (from 28/11/2007)
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DecAid
Patron (from 06/12/2010)
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De La Warr Pavilion, The
President (from 18/10/2006)
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Desert Rats 7th Armoured Division Thetford Forest Memorial Association, The
Patron (from 27/07/2007)
Honorary Member (from 14/08/2006)
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Dispensaire Francais
Patron (from 13/01/2009)
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Ditchling Museum
President (from 25/08/2006)
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Dundurn National Historic Site
Patron (from 29/09/2010)
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The East Sussex Women of the Year Launch
Honorary Patron (from 04/11/2011)
The Ebony Horse Club
President (from 21/04/2009)
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Elmhurst School for Dance
Patron (from 29/09/2006)
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Emmaus UK
Patron (from 25/08/2006)
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The Fan Museum
Patron (from 10/10/2008)
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First Story
Patron (from 05/10/2011)
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Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum
Patron (from 19/10/2005)
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The Georgian Theatre Royal
Joint Patron with The Prince of Wales (from 16/09/2005)
The Girl's Brigade in Scotland
Patron (from 14/04/2009)
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Girl's Friendly Society
Patron (from 13/12/2006)
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Hastings and St Leonards Veterans Association
Patron (from 29/04/2010)
Helen & Douglas House
Patron (from 18/01/2007)
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The Holfords of Westonbirt Trust
Joint President with The Prince of Wales (from 08/06/2006)
Kennel Club Charitable Trust, The
Patron (from 06/09/2007)
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The Lady Joseph Charitable Trust
Patron (from 06/09/2011)
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Langford Trust
Patron (from 20/11/2006)
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London Chamber Orchestra
Patron (from 12/09/2005)
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Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre
President (02/07/2008)
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Marwari Horse Society
Patron (from 29/03/2006)
Moorland Mousie Trust
Patron (from 03/03/2008)
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The National Association of Care Catering
Honorary Member (from 09/09/2009)
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The National Literacy Trust
Patron (from 16/11/2010)
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National Osteoporosis Society
President (from 01/10/2001)
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New Queen's Hall Orchestra
Patron (from 14/12/2004)
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Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Patron (from 08/09/2006)
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The P. G. Wodehouse Society of the Netherlands
Patron (from 01/08/2008)
Plumpton College Charitable Foundation
Patron (from 30/11/2009)
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The Public Catalogue Foundation
Patron (from 11/08/2008)
The Royal British Legion Women's Section
Life Member (14/05/2007)
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Royal National Hospital For Rheumatic Diseases
Patron (from 03/05/2006)
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The Royal School Hampstead
Patron (from 06/12/2006)
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Scotland’s Gardens Scheme
President (from 12/09/2005)
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Scottish National Equestrian Centre
Patron (from 01/01/2007)
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Scottish Women's Rural Institute, The (Ballater branch)
Honorary Member (from 20/09/2006)
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Shelterbox
President (from 07/08/2007)
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The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
Patron (from 12/09/2005)
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St. John's Smith Square Charitable Trust
Patron (from 30/10/2003)
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St. John's Hospital
Patron (from 21/07/2009)
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Tetbury Film Society
Patron (from 16/09/2001)
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Theatre Royal Bath, The
Patron (from 15/04/2008)
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Trinity Hospice
Patron (from 03/05/2006)
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Unicorn Theatre for Children
Patron (from 18/10/2005)
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The United Kingdom Vineyards Association
President (from 25/07/2011)
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The Upper Deeside Art Society
Honorary Member (02/09/2007)
War Memorial Trust
Patron (from 10/07/2007)
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West of England School and College for young people with little or no sight
Patron (from 04/06/2008)
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The Wicked Young Writers' Award
Patron (from 26/04/2010)
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Wilts and Berks Canal Trust
Patron (from 19/04/2006)
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Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal
Patron (from 21/07/2009)
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Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust
Patron (from 06/06/2005)
Website