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Royal Patronage Announcement

Gary Seath 6 months ago

Media

We are proud and honoured to announce that His Majesty, King Charles III, will serve as Patron of Forces Children Scotland.

Our announcement follows a Buckingham Palace review of patronages held by our former Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, extending to over 1000 charities and organisations across the United Kingdom.

Having served in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in the 1970s, His Majesty has maintained a close relationship with the Armed Forces.

He has served as Commander-in-Chief of the UK Armed Forces since the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022.

Forces Children Scotland first received royal patronage from Queen Victoria in 1852.

Back then we were known as The Royal Caledonian School. At the time, we were based in London, providing education and vocational skills training to children and young people from Scottish armed forces families.

Since then, successive monarchs have dutifully served as patrons of our charity over the last one-hundred and seventy-two years.

His Majesty becomes our seventh patron who has taken over the role from his Mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Majesty served as patron for over seventy years and provided enduring support to our cause during a significant period of transformation.

Transformational change started with a shift in charitable purpose when we decided to close our school in the late nineties to become an educational and grant-giving charity.

We have moved to Scotland and evolved to deliver mental health, family support, youth participation, and policy service strands to our work, complementing our traditional education and learning provision.

Much of our transformational change has been achieved by working directly with beneficiaries from armed forces communities across Scotland to co-produce our projects, services, and campaigns.

This wonderful news regarding Patronage from His Majesty marks the start of an exciting new chapter in our very proud history.

Together, we join in common purpose to make Scotland a place where all 13,000 children and young people from armed forces communities can overcome unique challenges associated with forces life to realise their potential and thrive.

Forces Children Scotland Chief Executive Officer, Laura Falconer, said:

“Forces Children Scotland is delighted and very proud to receive Royal Patronage from His Majesty, King Charles III.

“This wonderful news continues our one-hundred and seventy-two-year tradition of having the monarch serve as Patron.

“Royal Patronage sends an important message of support to the 13,000 children and young people from armed forces communities that our charity serves.

“It recognises the many unique aspects of their lives and their work in co-producing projects, services, and campaigns to make things better for themselves and over 13,000 peers across Scotland.

“We are very grateful to His Majesty, King Charles III, in extending patronage of our charity as we embark on a new exciting chapter on our journey to realising our strategic vision.”

 

Forces Children Scotland Trustee and Co-Chair, Max Young, said:

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to express our delight and gratitude that His Majesty, King Charles III, will serve as Patron of Forces Children Scotland, following Buckingham Palace’s review of Royal Patronage.

“This continues the long-standing relationship between ourselves and the Royal Family that dates back to Queen Victoria, who became our very first Patron in 1852.

“We look forward to working together to support the 13,000 children and young people from Armed Forces backgrounds across the length and breadth of Scotland.”