The Princess Royal has taken on a new role with a very special link to her mother and the news was announced on the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession.
Princess Anne is now the patron of the veterans’ charity, Royal Star & Garter. The role was held by Queen Elizabeth II from 1953 until her death in 2022.
Royal Star & Garter looks after veterans living with disability or dementia. It has homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe as well as services reaching out into the community.
It was set up in 1916 after work by Queen Mary. She became deeply concerned about the lack of help available to wounded servicemen returning from the Great War and asked the Red Cross to find a ‘permanent’ place for them to stay. Royal Star & Garter was established to be that home and Queen Mary became its patron on its establishment.
She oversaw a long period of expansion for the charity which has continued to care for veterans ever since.
On Queen Mary’s death, in 1953, the patronage passed to Queen Elizabeth II. Another of Queen Mary’s granddaughters, Princess Alexandra, is the charity’s President and she will retain that role.
Now, Queen Mary’s great granddaughter, Princess Anne, becomes only the third person to hold the role of patron.
Royal Star & Garter’s chair, Major General Tim Tyler CB, said it was an honour to welcome Princess Anne as patron, adding ”The Princess is admired for her dedication to good causes and her devotion to public work, as well as her long association with the Armed Forces. We look forward to welcoming Her Royal Highness to our Homes to meet the veterans and partners we care for.”
The news was announced on February 6th 2025, the 73rd anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II. Speaking of Her Late Majesty, Major General Tyler said ”we are delighted that The Princess is continuing her mother’s support for the military family. The Princess is already well acquainted with our charity, both through Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Patronage and the support of her great-grandmother Queen Mary, who was our first Patron….on behalf of the residents, relatives, volunteers and members of staff, we welcome our new Patron and look forward to sharing our ambitions to support more veterans and their families than ever before.”
A brand new portrait of The Princess Royal, by Jeremy Makinson, marks the appointment.
