SSAFA is delighted to announce that His Majesty King Charles III has been confirmed as its new Patron.
The Royal Family’s links to SSAFA, founded in 1885, date far back to when the future queen, Alexandra, was Princess of Wales. She was hailed as the first President of SSAFA.
Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth went on to become joint Patrons of SSAFA – including during the dark days of the Second World War – until the King’s death in 1952.
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon or now more fondly known as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, had an active interest in SSAFA long before she was a member of the Royal Family. She was a SSAFA volunteer as a teenager during the First World War often attending branch and fundraising events for the charity.
On becoming Her Majesty The Queen Mother, she continued as co-Patron, but this time with her daughter and the new Monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on her ascendancy to the throne. After her mother’s death in 2002, The Queen continued to honour SSAFA with her Patronage until her death in September 2022.
The news of His Majesty King Charles III following in the footsteps of his ancestors and choosing SSAFA as one of his Patronages has delighted all at the charity.
Commenting on the announcement of SSAFA’s Patron, Lt General Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said:
“All in SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity are delighted that King Charles III has agreed to be our Patron, continuing SSAFA’s long-standing close connection with the Royal Family.
“The King succeeds his mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who became Patron of SSAFA in 1952 and together with Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, supported and fundraised for SSAFA throughout her life. We look to the future with The King and our President His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent.”
