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King Charles III

The Duchess of Cornwall hails volunteers as being “the backbone” of the UK

Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall

This week marks Volunteers’ Week in the United Kingdom. The Duchess of Cornwall took to Twitter to thank volunteers in the UK for everything they do. 

On Tuesday, 1 June, Camilla posted a message to volunteers everywhere on the Clarence House Twitter account. 

She said: “Today is the first day of Volunteers’ Week, when we celebrate those who give their time to support, help and serve others. The past, challenging year has shown us just how incredibly important our volunteers are. Your selflessness and generosity of spirit enrich the lives of so many, and we are all greatly in your debt. To each and every volunteer, I should like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you for being the backbone of this country.” 

The message is particularly poignant as the UK is finally lifting pandemic restrictions, and many people have gone above and beyond in their volunteering in their communities. Different members of the Royal Family have highlighted volunteers throughout the global health crisis, and met with them via phone calls, video calls, and in-person visits. 

In March 2021, the Duchess took part in a video call with the Queen to thank members of the Royal Voluntary Service taking part in the NHS Responders Scheme. In June 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge called volunteers from two different organisations, Machynlleth Community Corona Response in Powys, Wales, and Conscious Youth in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, to mark Volunteers’ Week last year. 

The Duchess is affiliated with over 100 different charities and patronages in the UK, and enjoys meeting with different volunteers and learning about their experiences. 

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