Category: Charities & Patronages

New Patronage: The Royal Photographic Society

The Duchess of Cambridge has become Patron of The Royal Photographic Society.

Her Majesty The Queen has passed the patronage to The Duchess after having held the role for 67 years. The new patronage has been announced ahead of Her Royal Highness’s visit to a photography workshop run by The Royal Photographic Society and Action for Children, which is another of The Duchess’s patronages.

Her Royal Highness will join children from Action for Children in several sessions, run with Royal Photographic Society Honorary Fellows Jillian Edelstein and Harry Borden, that will cover various elements of photography such as portraits, light and colour. Alongside developing new skills, the workshop will highlight how photography provides a universal language for young people to express themselves and release their thoughts and feelings.

The Duchess has a longstanding interest in photography, and this patronage will further highlight the beneficial impact that art and creativity can have on emotional wellbeing, particularly for children and young people.

The Royal Photographic Society is one of the world’s oldest photographic societies. It was founded in 1853 with the objective of promoting the art and science of photography, and in the same year received Royal patronage from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The Society has over 11,000 members and runs an extensive programme of more than 500 events throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. Her Royal Highness was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Photographic Society in January 2017.

Chief Operating Officer of the Royal Photographic Society Mike Taylor said, “It is a huge honour to have The Duchess as our Patron, especially given her personal interest in photography. We know that photography and creative pursuits have such a positive impact for people of all ages, and we are excited to be working with one of The Duchess’s charities in support of their work.”

Source: Royal UK

The Duke & Duchess of Sussex Will Split From The Royal Foundation

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.

Source: The Royal Foundation

June 12 – Attending Addiction Awareness Week Gala Dinner

Tonight, June 12, 2019 The Duchess of Cambridge attended the Addiction Awareness Week Gala Dinner.

The Duchess joined her patronage Action on Addiction and Chef Skye Gyngell for the first annual gala dinner in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week. From June 10-16 of 2019, Addiction Awareness Week aims to provide a platform to discuss the many elements of addiction, and to engage with people and families affected, and to raise public awareness.

The Duchess of Cambridge has been Patron of Action on Addiction since January 2012 and has credited the charity on a number of occasions as where her work with mental health and early intervention started. Action on Addiction is a national charity which offers high quality, effective residential rehab and community based addiction treatment. Offering services for detox treatments, counseling, and life skills workshops.

Tonight, The Duchess met with former Action on Addiction clients who are working as apprentices in the kitchen, and worked with Spring Restaurant’s head chef and owner Skye Gyngell to prepare the evening’s dinner. The Duchess also gave a speech saying in part: “Action on Addiction was one of my very first patronages, and as such, it is very close to my heart. I’m hugely passionate about the support it provides, especially for parents,children and families who suffer from, or through, addiction. And in some ways, it was the catalyst for my interest in early childhood development too.” You can read the rest of her speech here.

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Engagements & Tour Photos > 2019 > June 12 | Attending Addiction Awareness Week Gala Dinner

The Cambridges & Sussexes Launch Mental Health Texting Service ‘Shout’

It’s been a busy week for the royals, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcoming their first child, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge traveling to Wales for a day of engagements, and Prince Harry visiting the Hague to launch an Invictus Games 2020 countdown. And now, both royal couples are coming together to launch an initiative that speaks to an issue they’ve long championed: mental health awareness.

The Cambridges and Sussexes have teamed up to debut Shout, a text messaging service available 24/7 to those struggling with mental health in the U.K. The program pairs users with trained volunteers to help those in need “move from a moment of crisis to a calm state and form a plan for next steps to find longer-term support,” according to a Kensington Palace announcement.

Shout is a part of the Royal Foundation’s Heads Together initiative, a campaign established in 2016 that works with a variety of charities to break the stigma around conversations surrounding mental health issues.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a joint statement about Shout:

“We are incredibly excited to be launching this service, knowing it has the potential to reach thousands of vulnerable people every day. Over the last few months Shout has started working quietly behind the scenes. We have all been able to see the service working up close and are so excited for its future. At the heart of this service will be an incredible national volunteer community, one which needs to grow to allow us to support more people in crisis. We hope that many more of you will join us and be part of something very special.”

Prince William also appears in a launch video for the service, discussing the work that went into the launching the program. “Over the past few months, Shout has started working quietly behind the scenes,” he says. “Harry, Meghan, Catherine and I have been able to see the service working up close, and are very excited for its future.”

Shout already has a volunteer base of 1,000, but the organization hopes to increase that to 4,000 by the end of 2019. Prince William closes his message with a final call to action: “This will make a huge difference to people’s lives, and I really hope you will come and join our team.”

Source: Harpers Bazaar

May 07 – The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Launch The King’s Cup Regatta

Today, May 07, 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a previously unannounced visit to Cutty Sark, to launch The King’s Cup Regatta. The event coincided with the announcement that The Duke and Duchess will host the new annual sailing event in August on the Isle of Wight as well as go head to head as skippers of individual sailing boats in an eight boat regatta race, to raise awareness and funds for eight of their Patronages. The winning team will be awarded The King’s Cup, a historic trophy first presented by King George V at Cowes’ Royal Yacht Squadron in 1920. The Duchess’s chosen charities are Action on Addiction, Place2Be, The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, and The Royal Foundation in connection with Her Royal Highness’s work on Early Years. Today, The Duke and Duchess joined children from Place2Be and other charities in trying out sailing simulators and they also unveiled the King’s Cup. Upon their departure they took a moment to greet crowds in an impromptu walkabout.

VIDEOS: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Face Off in Virtual Sailing Race

In even more exciting news, The Duke and Duchess also spoke about the birth of their new nephew.

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May 07 | The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Launch The King’s Cup Regatta

May 01 – The Duchess Of Cambridge Opens Anna Freud Centre Of Excellence

On May 01, 2019 The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of The Anna Freud National Centre for Families and Children officially opened the Kantor Centre of Excellence at Rodney Street, London. The new building is a purpose-built space where leading neuroscientists and practitioners in mental health, social care and education will work together with children and young people to transform mental health for them and their families. At the heart of the new centre is the ground-breaking Pears Family School, a school for children who have been excluded from mainstream education and focuses on re-integrating them back to a mainstream school. During her visit The Duchess met students who are benefiting from the centre and ‘young champions’ who are advocates for the centre. Before unveiling a plaque to mark the event The Duchess gave a short speech:

“We are all here today because we care so much about transforming the mental health of children, young people and their families. I have learned so much about early childhood development and the importance of support for parents through your work here at the Anna Freud Centre. This is something I really do care about. The ambition for the new Kantor Centre of Excellence is hugely inspiring; bringing together research, education, practice and policy all in one place will take the Anna Freud Centre mission to the next level. It is testament to what can be achieved when people work together to realise a shared vision”.

VIDEO: Duchess of Cambridge in Hysterics with Staff at the Anna Freud National Centre

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May 01 | The Duchess Of Cambridge Opens Anna Freud Centre Of Excellence

March 19 – The Duchess of Cambridge Visits The Foundling Museum

After her engagement with The Queen, The Duchess continued on to The Foundling Museum, her newest patronage. The Foundling Museum tells the history of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and public art gallery. When The Duchess first visited The Foundling Museum in 2017 she met with the first intake of ‘Tracing our Tales’ trainees. Today, two years later she again met some of these young adults again to hear how the programme has helped them gain confidence and employment. She also joined a ‘Tracing our Tales’ training session, inspired by the Museum’s Bedrooms of London exhibition and by explorations of fears and safety. The Museum’s ‘Bedrooms of London’ exhibition, documents the living conditions of London’s most disadvantaged children. Ending her visit, The Duchess had a few words for her new patronage:

“I feel hugely proud today to be here today to become Patron of the Foundling Museum. Your work connects and celebrates two subjects that are deeply important to me: children, and art.

I am passionate about improving children’s life chances and giving them opportunities, so that they can look forward to the best possible futures, fulfil their whole potential, and have the freedom to explore their creativity.

I have always believed in the power of art, not only to unlock that creativity, but also to bring us joy, and to inspire, challenge and positively change our lives.

Your Museum here powerfully links these two forces for good. By weaving together the moving stories of looked after children, with art and artists of all genres, you create meaningful learning experiences which will have a lasting, and often transformational, impact on young lives.

I could not be more delighted to support such a special organisation. I look forward to working together and, as your Patron, hopefully doing all I can to help your important mission in the future.

Thank you.”

VIDEOS: Duchess of Cambridge Shows Off Lino Printing Skills

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Engagements & Tour Photos – 2019 – March 19 | The Duchess of Cambridge Visits The Foundling Museum

New Patronage: The Foundling Museum

The Duchess of Cambridge has today become Patron of the Foundling Museum.

The new patronage has been announced ahead of Her Royal Highness’ visit to the Foundling Museum later today where she will learn how the organisation works with art and artists to transform the lives of vulnerable and marginalised young people.

During the visit Her Royal Highness will meet trainees and graduates of the Foundling Museum’s ‘Tracing our Tales’ programme, which has been developed to equip care-experienced young adults with the skills to devise and deliver workshops at the Museum. In 2017 The Duchess visited The Foundling Museum and met the first intake of ‘Tracing our Tales’ trainees; two years later she will meet these young adults again to hear how the programme has helped them gain confidence and employment.

The Duchess has a longstanding interest in both the arts and supporting vulnerable families, and this patronage will further highlight the beneficial impact that art and creativity has on emotional wellbeing.

The Foundling Museum tells the history of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and public art gallery. The museum works with contemporary artists, writers and musicians to develop learning programmes that are meaningful for young people, especially those who are looked after and care-experienced, to help them see the world differently and imagine new possibilities for themselves.

Larissa Joy, Chair of Trustees – Foundling Museum, said: ‘We are delighted and honoured that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has become Patron of the Foundling Museum. We could not imagine a more perfect Patron. We look forward to working with her as we fulfil our mission to inspire people to make positive impact on society through the arts.’

Caro Howell, Director of the Foundling Museum, said: ‘The Foundling Museum is thrilled and honoured to receive The Duchess’s patronage. Her support is a huge boost to our work transforming the lives of vulnerable young people through the arts.’

Source: Royal UK

Updates: Recent Gallery Additions

I’ve updated the gallery with photos from Catherine’s recent appearances. More photos will be added throughout the week, so keep checking back! Enjoy!





GALLERY LINKS
Engagements & Tour Photos – 2019 – March 06 | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Visit Blackpool
Engagements & Tour Photos – 2019 – March 11 | Commonwealth Day Service At Westminster Abbey
Engagements & Tour Photos – 2019 – March 12 | Visiting Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre
Engagements & Tour Photos – 2019 – March 12 | Attending The 2019 Portrait Gala

February 05 – The Duchess of Cambridge Visits London Schools

In support of Children’s Mental Health Week The Duchess of Cambridge visited Lavender Primary School and Alperton Community School to find out more about the support offered to students, teachers and parents to help with mental well-being. With the theme this year being ‘Healthy: Inside and Out’, and focusing on the connection between physical and mental health The Duchess visited Lavender Primary School in her role as Patron of Place2Be, she sat in on a number of activities with the children including a show and tell of objects that make them feel good (The Duchess brought a picture of her family), the school’s Daily Mile challenge which teaches children about the importance of being active, and a food diary activity, which focusses on the links between food choices and mood and feelings.

VIDEOS: HRH Supports Children’s Mental Health Week

At Alperton Community School The Duchess of Cambridge met the UK’s first winner of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize, Andria Zafirakou. She also joined a roundtable discussion with teachers about pupil school readiness and teacher wellbeing. Catherine also met with students taking part in the Random Acts of Kindness Club, a extra-curricular club focusing on the wellbeing of the school community. and Textiles Classroom hearing how the school uses Art to enhance children’s confidence, creativity and wellbeing across the age groups

VIDEOS: Duchess of Cambridge marks Children’s Mental Health Week

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Engagements & Tour Photos – 2019 – February 05 | The Duchess of Cambridge Visits London Schools

January 29 – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Visit Dundee

On (January 30, 2018) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Dundee, Scotland to open the new V&A Museum and to meet employees and their families from the Dundee Michelin factory. The Earl and Countess of Strathearn as they are known in Scotland started their set of engagements at V&A Dundee, Scotland’s first design museum. William and Catherine met with met architect of the building as well as representatives from the Young Peoples Collective, who design programmes, and lead activities and tours of the Museum.

The Duchess of Cambridge gave a speech in her role as Patron of the V&A saying:

‘William and I are so pleased to be back here in Dundee to celebrate the opening of this wonderful museum today. Thank you so much for inviting us. Last February, I was delighted to become Patron of The V&Ain London. Now, nearly a year later, I’m thrilled to be standing in a brand new V&A: one which has been built for the city of Dundee and for Scotland, and which is already picking up international awards. In its first four months alone, it welcomed over three-hundred and sixty-thousand visitors – a truly remarkable feat.

Walking around this world-class space, it’s easy to see how Scotland’s first dedicated design museum is already inspiring the next generation, by providing a new learning space for discovery. I have been captivated by the breath-taking architecture, and the sheer range of design on display. But most of all I’ve been moved by the passion of the people who work here, and the dedication of all those who have helped make this important project to succeed.

I believe we should celebrate all our leading galleries, museums, and cultural centres playing a greater role in communities, not just in London, but up and down the countrytoo. The cultural riches of the UK belong to all people of the UK. This is what V&A Dundee has achieved. The partners involved in this project from the local area, Scotland, and the UK more broadly all deserve enormous credit for the way you have collaborated to make this happen.

I hope that this Museum will serve as an inspiration to others, by showing how great things can be achieved when different communities all pull together. With this thought in mind, I am pleased to declare V&A Dundee ‘officially’ open. I wish you all every success for the future.’

The pair then went on a short walkabout outside the museum to greet the public.

On their second engagement The Earl and Countess met with employees and their families from the Dundee Michelin Factory at the Crescent Community Centre to hear first hand about the impact the factory’s closure is having on their families and the area. William and Catherine joined a meeting of the Michelin Dundee Action Group, which is working to repurpose the site and ensure new employment opportunities for the local area.

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Engagements & Tour Photos – 2019 – January 29: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Visit Dundee

December 11 – The Duke and Duchess Visit Evelina London And The Passage

This morning, (December 11, 2018) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Evelina London Children’s Hospital and The Passage Charity, the UK’s largest Resource Centre for homeless people & provider of accommodation & homelessness prevention projects.

To kick off their visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital this morning it was announced that The Duchess of Cambridge would become Patron. Kensington Palace says the new Patronage “provides an opportunity to champion the medical professionals working on the front-line in children’s healthcare, and shine a light on their work supporting children in their early years.” Evelina London is part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, of which Her Majesty The Queen is Patron. At Evelina London The Duke and Duchess met children receiving care at the hospital, heard from staff and parents about Evelina London’s life changing care and support for families. Their Royal Highnesses joined children as they took part in a number of Christmas-themed activities, before joining celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the hospital.

At the Passage Charity William and Catherine joined service users for an arts and crafts workshop to prepare cards and gifts ahead of the centre’s Christmas party next week. They also heard from frontline workers about some of the challenges relating to street homelessness, including drug addiction and mental health issues. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met staff and volunteers to learn more about their work linking clients into statutory services and minimising harm.

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Engagements & Tour Photos > 2018 > December 11 | Visiting Evelina London And The Passage