King Charles is set to join other members of the royal family next week to mark what would have been the late Queen’s 100th birthday. And ahead of the celebrations, the monarch will become the patron of a new charity that honours her legacy.
It was confirmed on Saturday that Charles will be the patron of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, which is set to be launched on Tuesday as a set of projects marking her life. The organisation will offer grants to communities across the United Kingdom to develop and regenerate shared spaces. Money from the charity will also give access to skills and training to those putting on local events.
The UK government has confirmed a one-off £40 million donation to help the charity getting off the ground. Possible projects could include developing underused buildings, green spaces and neighbourhood hubs across the country.
The charity spent two years in the pipeline, with members of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee consulting with groups in order to develop it.
The other two projects to honour Her Late Majesty include a National Memorial landmark that will be located in St James’s Park, and a Digital Memorial tribute to her life. Further details about these projects and the charity will be announced on Tuesday.
Sir Damon Buffini, the chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust said: “I’m honoured and excited to have been chosen as the founding Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust to help guide its direction from the start. This is a real chance to support communities across the United Kingdom and bring shared spaces back to life: places where people of all ages and backgrounds can meet, connect, and belong.
“As an organisation, we’re ambitious about what we can achieve, and our goal is to significantly increase our impact by attracting support from others. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves, listening and learning from communities, and seeing what we can make happen.”
Next week’s events
The late Queen would have turned 100 on Tuesday, and events will be held to commemorate the milestone moment. Charles has reportedly written a speech for the occasion commemorating the 70-year reign of his late mother and highlighting her legacy and service.
The royal family will gather for a Buckingham Palace reception on the day of Elizabeth’s birthday. Charities and organisations associated with the late Queen, including Cancer Research UK, the Jockey Club and the Army Benevolent Fund, are invited.
Guests will also include some of the UK’s oldest citizens who share their 100th birthday with the late Queen, and the King will present their centenary cards in person.
Read the full article here
