FROM THE WEBSITE: Driven by a desire to make a difference together, The Royal Foundation is the primary philanthropic and charitable vehicle for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Programs currently revolve around four main themes of work; mental health, wildlife and conservation, young people and the armed forces community.
Focusing on projects that meet some simple criteria – they must reflect the interests and passions of our Principals; they bring about sustainable change to issues that matter to society; they are innovative; and they work in a way that only The Royal Foundation can make happen.
The Royal Foundation support these projects by using our Principals’ convening power to provide a neutral platform where charities and other organisations can work together.
The Royal Foundation is also very clear to set out a timeline for the life of the programme. If a new potential project meets the criteria it is researched and the most effective solutions explored, scaling when appropriate and ultimately handing the reins over to one of the partners or developing it in a way that makes it self-sustainable. The Invictus Games is one such programme, developed by The Royal Foundation, now successfully growing and run independently.
The Royal Foundation was legally established by The Princes in September 2009 and became fully operational in 2011, when The Duchess of Cambridge joined as a Principal Patron. Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex became the fourth Principal Patron following her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.
INFORMATION:
— Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge became the 3rd Principal Patron in April 2011.
Charities, programs, and campaigns that are supported by The Royal Foundation that you may see featured here:
2016 | Heads Together
Through The Royal Foundation’s Heads Together campaign, launched in 2016 and spearheaded by The Prince and Princess of Wales and The Duke of Sussex, we brought together 8 charity partners and set out to change the conversation on mental health, building on the decades of work they have already done.
2017 | Mental Health Innovations
The Royal Foundation set up Mental Health Innovations (MHI), a digital mental health charity using digital innovation, data-driven analysis and the experience of clinical experts to improve the mental health of the UK population. We supported MHI with the launch of Shout in May 2019, one of the UK’s most innovative and pioneering digital mental health support services, making it easier for people in crisis to get help.
2018 | Mentally Healthy Schools
In partnership with Heads Together charity partners The Anna Freud Centre, Place2Be and Young Minds, The Royal Foundation launched Mentally Healthy Schools in 2018, a website for primary school, secondary school, and further education college staff giving them access to hundreds of quality-assured resources, advice and information to help them better understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing.
2020 | 5 BIG QUESTIONS Research Study
The Royal Foundation commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct a major research study – 5 Big Questions – exploring what the UK thinks about the under-fives. Launched by The Princess and open to everyone, it sought society’s views on raising the next generation so that we can all work together on the key issues affecting our communities and provide help where it’s needed most. 500,000 people filled in the survey, making it the largest ever response to a public survey of its kind.
2020 | COVID-19 RESPONSE
Their Royal Highnesses and The Royal Foundation are committed to supporting these extraordinary people on the frontline of responding to COVID-19 in the UK, and supporting the mental health sector as it responds to the immediate and long-term mental health consequences of the pandemic.
Notable Moments: ‘Together A Christmas’ Carol Service
2020 | The Earthshot Prize
Launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2020, this global prize for the environment will incentivize change and help to repair our planet over the next ten years – a critical decade for the Earth.
2021 | The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood
The Princess of Wales launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which will drive awareness of and action on the extraordinary impact of the early years, in order to transform society for the future. The Centre will focus on three key areas of activity: Research – Collaboration – Creating Change
