Charities and Patronages
Charities and Patronages
While The Duchess supports The Prince in his work and role as Heir to the Throne, she also works for a number of her own charities in her role as Patron or President.
National Osteoporosis Society
The Duchess is President of the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS). Her Royal Highness has worked for many years to promote understanding and raise awareness of osteoporosis, a devastating brittle bone disease that affects one in two women and one in five men in the UK.
The Duchess’s mother, Mrs Rosalind Shand, was 72 when she died in 1994 as a result of osteoporosis. The Duchess’s grandmother had died from the same condition eight years earlier.
Her Royal Highness has been President of the National Osteoporosis Society since 2001, and was Patron between 1997 and 2001.
During that time she has visited many bone units and hospitals across the country, meeting patients, showing support for local fund-raisers and opening new bone scanners.
In September 2006, The Duchess launched a week of Big Bone Walks for the National Osteoporosis Society by joining 90 other walkers to hike the 10 miles around Loch Muick on the Balmoral estate.
The event raised almost £200,000 for the NOS, the majority of which was raised by The Duchess herself.
Her Royal Highness has given a number of speeches about osteoporosis. The Duchess gave her first public speech at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, hosted by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) in Lisbon in May 2002.
Other charities
Her Royal Highness has supported the Wiltshire Bobby Van Scheme as Trustee and then Patron for many years. The scheme, run by Wiltshire Police, provides victim support to elderly and vulnerable members of the community whose homes have been broken into.
The Duchess also supports charities that look after young people and is Patron of the Unicorn Theatre for Children and in the Autumn of 2007, The Duchess of Cornwall became President of Barnardo’s, taking over from Cherie Booth QC. In November, Her Royal Highness visited a Barnardo’s school in Wokingham and met children who have benefited from the charity’s work.
The Duchess is Patron of Emmaus, a charity that provides homeless people of all ages with a home, work and the chance to rebuild their self-respect in a supportive, community environment. She has visited Emmaus communities before Christmas in 2006 and 2007. Click here to read about Her Royal Highness's most recent visit.
As The Duchess of Cornwall, Her Royal Highness is Patron of charities specific to the South West, such as the Cornwall Community Foundation and the Public Catalogue Foundation's Cornish Catalogue.
In August 2007, The Duchess of Cornwall became President of ShelterBox, a registered UK charity based in Cornwall that provides emergency aid for victims of natural and other disasters anywhere in the world.
Her Royal Highness first met workers for the charity during a visit to the earthquake-hit villages of Pakistan in November 2006 and then paid a visit to the headquarters in Helston, Cornwall in May 2007.
The Duchess’s interest in animals and animal welfare is reflected in her patronages. She is Patron of the Animal Care Trust (under the umbrella of The Royal Veterinary College) and the British Equestrian Federation, and is President of the Brooke Hospital for Animals.
In November 2006 The Duchess became Patron of the Langford Trust for Animal Health and Welfare, which is a charity that supports the University of Bristol Veterinary School to promote the practice, advancement and teaching of veterinary science.
In addition to her work for the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS), The Duchess of Cornwall is Patron of the following health-related charities: Royal National Hospital For Rheumatic Diseases, The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, Trinity Hospice and Helen & Douglas House, which looks after children and young adults with life-shortening conditions.
Like The Prince of Wales, The Duchess takes a keen interest in heritage and is Patron of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust, Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, Ditchling Museum, Friends of Lacock Church Appeal and Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.
The Duchess is a great supporter of the arts and regularly attends concerts and theatre shows with The Prince of Wales. These are often fundraising events for charities with which Their Royal Highnesses are affiliated.
The Duchess is Patron of the London Chamber Orchestra, St Johns, Smith Square, the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra, and the Theatre Royal Bath.
The Duchess of Cornwall's Patronages
Animal Care Trust (under the umbrella of The Royal Veterinary College)
Patron (from 12/09/2005)
Click here to visit the website
Barnardo's
President (from 03/10/2007)
Click here to visit the website
British Equestrian Federation
Patron (from 06/04/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Brooke Hospital for Animals
President (from 01/11/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Community First
Patron (from 31/07/2005)
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Cornwall Community Foundation
Patron (from 12/09/2005)
Click here to visit the website
Cowbridge Physic Garden Trust
Patron (from 14/10/2008)
Click here to visit the website
Crathie Opportunity Holidays
Patron (from 28/11/2007)
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De La Warr Pavilion, The
President (from 18/10/2006)
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Desert Rats 7th Armoured Division Thetford Forest Memorial Association, The
Patron (from 27/07/2007)
Honorary Member (from 14/08/2006)
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Devon County Agricultural Association, The
President (from20/07/2006)
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Ditchling Museum
President (from 25/08/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Elmhurst School for Dance
Patron (from 29/09/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Emmaus UK
Patron (from 25/08/2006)
Click here to visit the website
The Fan Museum
Patron (from 10/10/2008)
Click here to visit the website
Friends of Lacock Church Appeal
Patron (from 24/02/2006)
Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum
Patron (from 19/10/2005)
Click here to visit the website
The Georgian Theatre Royal
Joint Patron with The Prince of Wales (from 16/09/2005)
Girl's Friendly Society
Patron (from 13/12/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Helen & Douglas House
Patron (from 18/01/2007)
Click here to visit the website
The Holfords of Westonbirt Trust
Joint President with The Prince of Wales (from 08/06/2006)
Kennel Club Charitable Trust, The
Patron (from 06/09/2007)
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Langford Trust for Animal Welfare
Patron (from 20/11/2006)
Click here to visit the website
London Chamber Orchestra
Patron (from 12/09/2005)
Click here to visit the website
Maggie's
President (02/07/2008)
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Marwari Horse Society
Patron (from 29/03/2006)
Moorland Mousie Trust
Patron (from 03/03/2008)
Click here to visit the website
National Osteoporosis Society
President (from 01/10/2001)
Click here to visit the website
New Queen's Hall Orchestra
Patron (from 14/12/2004)
Click here to visit the website
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Patron (from 08/09/2006)
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The P. G. Wodehouse Society of the Netherlands
Patron (from 01/08/2008)
The Public Catalogue Foundation
Patron (from 11/08/2008)
Public Catalogue Foundation's Cornish Catalogue
Patron (from 24/10/2005)
The Royal British Legion Women's Section
Life Member (14/05/2007)
Click here to visit the website
Royal National Hospital For Rheumatic Diseases
Patron (from 03/05/2006)
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The Royal School Hampstead
Patron (from 06/12/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Scotland’s Gardens Scheme
President (from 12/09/2005)
Click here to visit the website
Scottish National Equestrian Centre
Patron (from 01/01/2007)
Click here to visit the website
Scottish Women's Rural Institute, The (Ballater branch)
Honorary Member (from 20/09/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Shelterbox
President (from 07/08/2007)
Click here to visit the website
The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
Patron (from 12/09/2005)
Click here to visit the website
St John's Smith Square Charitable Trust
Patron (from 30/10/2003)
Click here to visit the website
Tetbury Film Society
Patron (from 16/09/2001)
Click here to visit the website
Theatre Royal Bath, The
Patron (from 15/04/2008)
Click here to visit the website
Trinity Hospice
Patron (from 03/05/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Unicorn Theatre for Children
Patron (from 18/10/2005)
Click here to visit the website
The Upper Deeside Art Society
Patron (02/09/2007)
War Memorial Trust
Patron (from 10/07/2007)
Click here to visit the website
West of England School and College for young people with little or no sight
Patron (from 04/06/2008)
Click here to visit the website
Wilts and Berks Canal Trust
Patron (from 19/04/2006)
Click here to visit the website
Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust
Patron (from 06/06/2005)
Click here to visit the website