The Duke of Kent celebrated 55 years as President of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by visiting the Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station, the first station he ever visited.
Buckingham Palace announced this week that King Charles has succeeded Queen Elizabeth II as the organisation’s patron, but the Duke continues as its President.
The Duke succeeded his father and mother as the organisation’s President, coming into the role in 1969 following the death of the Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.
During his visit to Fraserburgh on Wednesday, the Duke met with the family members of crew members who were lost on board the RNLB Duchess of Kent in January 1970; the family of the sole survivor; and two members of the crew that served aboard the RNLB Duchess of Kent at the same time.
The Duke also met with lifesavers working at Fraserburgh today, presenting thank you letters to those who worked to save four fishermen in 2022.
Before leaving, the Duke presented a new flag with the King’s Crown upon it to mark the new patronage.
In a post on the RNLI’s website, its chief executive, Mark Dowie, said of the King’s patronage: “All volunteers, supporters and staff will be extremely proud that The King has honoured the RNLI with His Majesty’s patronage.
“This is particularly so in the 200th anniversary year of the institution as we reflect on all that has gone before in the reigns of His Majesty’s forebears, together with the RNLI’s bright future as we head into our third century of lifesaving.”
The RNLI has had an unbroken line of monarchs as their patron since 1824, when King George IV became its first royal patron. Since then, every king, queen regnant, and a few queen consorts—including Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother—have served as royal patron.
