Charities and Patronages
Charities and Patronages
Although The Duke of Cambridge is currently focusing on his military career he wants to show his support for organisations that reflect issues he cares about both in the UK and abroad.In 2009 The Duke of Cambridge and his brother Prince Harry created their own Foundation to focus on supporting issues that are close to their hearts.
Along with The Duchess of Cambridge, who is now also a Patron of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, Their Royal Highnesses intend to use the Foundation as the main vehicle for their charitable activities and through raising sustainable sources of funds, the Foundation will be able to make charitable grants and support projects of particular interest. At the direction of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, the Foundation will initially focus on the following three areas: Young People – particularly those who are disadvantaged or in need of guidance; Sustainable development – particularly the need to find more sustainable models to balance development and the conservation of resources and the natural environment; and the welfare of the country’s Armed servicemen and women.
The Duke of Cambridge is also Patron or President of a small number of charities or organisations, which range across a wide spectrum of life in the UK and abroad. In 2006, The Duke and his brother, Prince Harry, created The Prince’s Charities Forum in order to foster collaboration among the charities and organisations with which they are affiliated.
In September 2005, His Royal Highness became Patron of Centrepoint, the UK’s leading homelessness charity. This was the Duke’s first Patronage and reflects his long-standing interest in homelessness and the people affected by it. His mother Diana, Princess of Wales was Patron of the charity. The Duke has worked with Centrepoint on a number of occasions in the last few years and slept rough in London with a group of young homeless people and Centrepoint staff to highlight the issue in the run-up to Christmas.
In December 2005, The Duke became Patron of the Tusk Trust, a conservation charity based in the UK which aims to secure a peaceful co-existence for Africa’s wildlife and its people. The Duke was impressed by the work of the charity after seeing it first-hand during a private visit to Africa. In June 2010 The Duke visited Botswana with his brother Prince Harry on their first joint overseas tour. Their Royal Highnesses visited an Education Centre on the Mokolodi Nature Reserve to engage with some of the 12,000 Botswana Children who are learning about environmental conservationism through ‘outdoor classroom’ projects.
In May 2006, The Duke of Cambridge became President of the Football Association, the governing body of English football, taking over from his uncle, The Duke of York. Like his brother Prince Harry, The Duke of Cambridge is a keen sportsman. He played for his house football team at Eton and for Sunday league teams during his four years at St. Andrews University and is also an Aston Villa supporter. The Duke is keen for children to participate in community football programmes and has expressed his wish to get more children involved with football.
In May 2007, The Duke was appointed President of the Royal Marsden, a position previously held by his mother. Prior to his Presidency, The Duke undertook two days work experience at the hospital in December 2005, working in the Children’s Unit. The Prince, as then, helped out in a variety of departments including medical research, catering and fund raising, as well as visiting a number of wards.
Also in May 2007, The Duke became Patron of Mountain Rescue England and Wales and The English Schools' Swimming Association. These patronages reflect The Duke’s interest in youth sport and, in his own words, his desire to "highlight and celebrate the vital, selfless and courageous work of our mountain rescue organisations".
In September 2008, The Duke became Patron of A Positive View 2010, a landmark exhibition and charity auction. The event, which took place in March and April 2010, showcased some of the best international iconic photography produced since 1809. The exhibition included a specially commissioned diptych - two pictures that should always be shown together - comprising of a photo of Prince William taken by former homeless man Jeff Hubbard, and a photo of Jeff Hubbard taken by His Royal Highness.
In January 2009, The Duke and his brother Prince Harry became Joint Patrons of the Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, which supports schools in Uganda, and was set up in memory of a school friend.
In February 2009, The Duke of Cambridge became Patron of Skill Force. The charity primarily utilises the skills of former members of the Armed Forces to run life skills courses for disadvantaged young people. Click here to see the video.
In January 2010, as part of his tribute to his grandmother The Queen, The Duke became Patron of The Queen Elizabeth II Fields, an initiative run by Fields in Trust to protect and create hundreds of playing fields throughout the UK in honour of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. The Prince is keen to support the project given that ready access to playing fields has shown to help community cohesion, reduce anti-social behaviour and improve health and wellbeing – all areas to which The Duke of Cambridge is committed through his existing patronages.
Patronages
100 Women in Hedge Funds' Philanthropic Initiatives
Patron (from 1/1/2010)
Website
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
President (from 21/02/2010)
Website
Centrepoint
Patron (from 13/09/2005)
Website
The Child Bereavement Charity
Patron (12/03/2009)
Website
The English Schools’ Swimming Association (ESSA)
Patron (from 16/05/2007)
Website
The Foundation of the College of St. George
Vice President (from 22/08/2008)
Website
The Football Association
President (from 01/05/2006)
Website
Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund
Joint Patron (with Prince Harry, from 08/01/2009)
Website
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
Royal Master of the Bench (from 06/07/2009)
Website
HMS Alliance Conservation Appeal
Patron (from 10/06/2008)
Mountain Rescue (England and Wales)
Patron (from 16/05/2007)
Website
National Memorial Arboretum Future Foundations Appeal
Patron (from 24/04/2009)
Website
Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge (Fields in Trust)
Patron (from 07/06/2010)
Website
Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Patron (from 10/09/2008)
Website
The Royal Marsden Hospital
President (from 16/05/2007)
Website
The Royal Society
Fellow (from 02/07/2010)
Website
Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race 2011/2012
Patron (from 20/11/2010)
Website
Skill Force
Patron (from 26/02/2009)
Website
The Tusk Trust
Patron (from 19/12/2005)
Website
The University of St. Andrews 600th Appeal
Patron (from 25/02/2011)
The Welsh Rugby Union
Vice Royal Patron (from 04/02/2007)
Website