Tag: Buckingham Palace

The press release issued by Buckingham Palace on 5 February 2024.

During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.

The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.

The press release issued by Buckingham Palace on 16 December 2022.

A meeting took place this morning, 16th December, at Buckingham Palace between Ms Ngozi Fulani, founder of Sistah Space, and Lady Susan Hussey to address the incident that took place at a Palace reception last month.

At this meeting, filled with warmth and understanding, Lady Susan offered her sincere apologies for the comments that were made and the distress they caused to Ms Fulani.

Lady Susan has pledged to deepen her awareness of the sensitivities involved and is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the issues in this area.

Ms Fulani, who has unfairly received the most appalling torrent of abuse on social media and elsewhere, has accepted this apology and appreciates that no malice was intended.

The Royal Households will continue their focus on inclusion and diversity, with an enhanced programme of work which will extend knowledge and training programmes, examining what can be learnt from Sistah Space, and ensuring these reach all members of their communities.

Both Ms Fulani and Lady Susan ask now that they be left in peace to rebuild their lives in the wake of an immensely distressing period for them both.

They hope that their example shows a path to resolution can be found with kindness, co-operation and the condemnation of discrimination wherever it takes root.

It is the wish of both parties that, at the end of the UN’s 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, attention can now return to the important work of Sistah Space in supporting women affected by domestic abuse.

Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort and other members of the Royal Family have been kept fully informed and are pleased that both parties have reached this welcome outcome.

The press release issued by Buckingham Palace on 9 December 2022.

Wrexham AFC

Their Majesties started the day at Wrexham Association Football Club (AFC), where they met the club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, alongside players, to learn about the redevelopment of the club.

During the visit, The King and The Queen Consort learn about the redevelopment of the club, which is the third oldest professional team in the world.

The club is now owned by Hollywood actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who are aiming to grow the team the team and return it to the English Football League in front of increased attendances, and in an improved stadium, while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham.

St Giles’ Church

Their Majesties then headed to St Giles’ Church for a celebration to mark Wrexham becoming a city, which it received as part of The late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.

The King formally marked the conferral of city status and made a short speech.

There was then the opportunity to view the Church’s treasures including the First Edition King James Bible and a rare early 14th century chalice which is still in use before meeting Church and ecumenical representatives and local community groups.

Erdigg

At National Trust site Erdigg, The King, joined by the First Minister of Wales, planted an oak sapling, grown from the ancient Pontfadog Oak.

The Pontfadog Oak fell during a storm in 2013, and the Crown Estate subsequently manged to propagate the original tree.

His Majesty and The First Minister had previously viewed the sapling during a visit to the National Botanic Gardens in July 2022, which had been grown to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, and has now been planted in her memory.

The press release issued by Buckingham Palace on 7 December 2022.

The King has joined a special event at Central Hall Westminster to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Business in the Community (BITC).

Business in the Community (BITC) was formed in 1982 and is the largest and longest-established membership organisation dedicated to responsible business. Today, the organisation works and campaigns with more than 600 businesses, alongside other stakeholders, with the aim of making society fairer and greener. As Prince of Wales, His Majesty was the Royal Founding Patron of BITC.

As part of the event, His Majesty viewed a display of four decades of BITC’s work, and met Fellows who have supported the organisation’s efforts over the years.

The King also recognised the impact of BITC’s Race at Work initiative which has been running for 27 years.

Business in the Community’s Race Equality campaign started in 1995 when a network of senior business leaders recognised that business action was needed to address the imbalance of opportunities for Black, Asian, Mixed-Race, and other ethnically diverse employees in workplaces across the UK.

The press release issued by the Royal Family on 3 December 2022.

St Edward’s Crown, the historic centrepiece of the Crown Jewels, has been removed from the Tower of London to allow for modification work to begin ahead of the Coronation on Saturday 6th May 2023.

As per tradition, The King will be crowned with St Edward’s Crown during the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey.

The King will also wear the Imperial State Crown during the Service.

St Edward’s Crown is the crown historically used at the moment of Coronation, and worn by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at her Coronation in 1953. It was made for Charles II in 1661, as a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649. The original was thought to date back to the eleventh-century royal saint, Edward the Confessor – the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

The crown was commissioned from the Royal Goldsmith, Robert Vyner, in 1661. Although it is not an exact replica of the medieval design, it follows the original in having four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis, and two arches. It is made up of a solid gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines. The crown has a velvet cap with an ermine band.

The press release issued by Buckingham Palace on 2 November 2022.

His Majesty The King has joined celebrations at Buckingham Palace to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Resettlement of British Asians from Uganda in the United Kingdom.

On 4th August 1972, some 60,000 Ugandan Asians were given 90 days’ notice to leave the country by former Ugandan President General Idi Amin. Almost half of these people arrived and settled in the UK.

Sixteen temporary resettlement and reception camps were set up around the country with 63 voluntary sector organisations mobilised to provide humanitarian support for the evacuees. Thousands of private individuals also volunteered, providing warm clothes, activities for children, English language teaching and other support.

Presented by broadcasters Jon Snow and Jonathan Dimbleby, today’s ceremony reunited many of the refugees and volunteers whilst offering thanks to over 60 voluntary organisations, including the Royal Voluntary Service, British Red Cross and Oxfam, who mobilised to provide timely humanitarian assistance 50 years ago.

In 1997, a Service of Thanksgiving was held at Westminster Abbey to mark the 25th anniversary of the Resettlement and was attended by the former Prime Minster, Sir Edward Heath. A letter from His Majesty, then The Prince of Wales, featured in the Order of Service programme, which read:

“As you give thanks to Westminster Abbey, I too give thanks – that Britain had the wisdom and generosity to offer a home to the Ugandan Asians in 1972, and that you have so thrived and contributed so much since. I send you my heartfelt wishes on this important day.”

The press release issued by the Royal Family on 2 November 2022.

His Royal Highness is Patron of Tusk and helped to launch the awards in 2013. This year is the tenth year that the awards have provided a platform to spotlight the work of conservation leaders and wildlife rangers in Africa.

To help mark the milestone, award alumni from across Africa came together to celebrate at this year’s event, including Benson Kanyembo, a Law Enforcement Advisor at Conservation South Luangwa in Zambia, who helped to reduce elephant mortality rates by 66% between 2018-2020, and Edward Ndiritu, the Head of Anti-Poaching at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, who has sustained a poaching level of near zero for seven years and counting across the Lewa landscape.

Following the opportunity to meet this year’s finalists and learn more about their vital work, His Royal Highness will took part in the awards presentation and gave a speech.

The press release issued by Buckingham Palace on 26 October 2022.

The Princess of Wales has today become Patron of Captain Preet Chandi’s expedition across Antarctica. Captain Chandi MBE is aiming to become the first woman to cross Antarctica solo and unsupported, travelling over 1000 miles.

Captain Chandi is taking part in the challenge to inspire future generations to believe in themselves, to push their boundaries and show how the outdoors can help them achieve their dreams. The Princess has long been an advocate of the huge impact the outdoors can have on our wellbeing and the life skills it nurtures, such as confidence and resilience.

She is committed to promoting this to young people, including through her work with organisations such as the Scouts, of which she is joint President. Preet’s historic expedition is the pinnacle of such activity and that is why The Princess is delighted to have been invited to be Patron.

Captain Preet Chandi MBE said:

“My aim for this expedition has always been to inspire people to push their boundaries. I want to bring people on this journey with me, to help them believe that nothing is impossible.

“It is an absolute privilege to have The Princess of Wales as the Patron.”

In January 2021, Captain Chandi created history by becoming the first woman of colour to reach the South Pole solo and unsupported. She finished the route in 40 days, just short of the female world record of 38 days held by Joanna Davidson of Sweden.

This time Preet will pull all her kit and supplies on a sledge weighing around 120kg while battling temperatures of -50c and wind speeds of up to 60mph. She is due to begin her trek at the start of November and has 75 days to complete the journey.

Captain Chandi is a physiotherapist and serving member of the British Army, currently working as a physiotherapist at a Regional Rehabilitation Unit in Buckinghamshire, providing rehabilitation for injured soldiers and officers.

The press release issued by Buckingham Palace on 11 October 2022.

Buckingham Palace is pleased to announce that the Coronation of His Majesty The King will take place on Saturday 6^th May, 2023.

The Coronation Ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, London, and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort.

The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.

Further details will be announced in due course.