For well over a century, senior working members of the British royal family have dedicated the majority of their time to supporting a wide variety of charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service institutions both at home and abroad.
From small community based projects to prominent organisations with an expansive reach, their patronage ensures vital publicity for the work being done, not to mention recognition of their contribution to society.
In 2012, on the occasion of the late Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the Charities Aid Foundation revealed the royals were involved with upwards of 2,415 charities in Britain and almost 3000 organisations worldwide.
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Seeking to promote a culture of giving, John Low, then-chief executive of the group, addressed the Queen's impact and credited her with doing "more for charity than any other monarch in history."
Indeed, according to research subsequently released, she was among the planet's "greatest supporters" having helped raise over £1.4bn throughout the course of her reign.
Opting to pass several of her patronages on to family members at the end of her 90th birthday year, she maintained a connection to around 600 others for the remainder of her life.
Following her death, the Royal Household implemented a review of those needing a reshuffle, but considering the strategy favoured by the younger set, it's possible quite a few will have to relinquish their royal ties.
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Per the Royal Archives, the first recorded patronage was that of King George II, who showed a keen interest in the work of the Society of Antiquaries, a heritage charity devoted to architectural and art history, conservation and heraldry. Established in 1707, it continues to exist and it retains its Royal Patronage through the Duke of Gloucester.
But, it was Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII, who paved the way for the type of charitable work we see today.
A popular Consort, she committed much of her time and income to the poor and she was a regular visitor to the London Hospital where she met Joseph Merrick, the patient known as the Elephant Man.
Renowned for her generosity, she founded the Queen Alexandra's Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) in 1902 and she instituted the annual Alexandra Rose Day in aid of hospitals in 1912.
A memorial portraying her surrounded by figures representing faith, love and hope was unveiled in the garden wall of Marlborough House in 1932. Referencing her charitable endeavors, the little boy depicted running underneath her throne was designed to symbolise her efforts to better the lives of children.
Renamed the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps in 1949, the Duchess of Edinburgh now serves as Colonel-in-Chief of the original QAIMNS.
Boasting an equally rich royal past, Queen Elizabeth II was Patron of the Mother's Union, a position first held by Queen Victoria in 1898 and Prince William followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father becoming the third royal male to take on the Presidency of the British Sub-Aqua Club in 2014.
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He similarly succeeded the late Duke of Edinburgh as President of Fields in Trust, which was set up by King George VI in 1925.
Upon the death of her father, the Queen and Prince Philip inherited a plethora of patronages. Seven decades on, King Charles is expected to adopt a vast percentage of the roles they previously held, but given his dance card is already full, it's going to be virtually impossible for him to assume responsibility for them all.
With the current crop of royals stretched so thin, some relationships will inevitably have to be retired.
In addition, the Prince and Princess of Wales's desire to allocate more time to a smaller pool means the royals' charitable landscape is on the cusp of a significant change.
Nonetheless, the couple's vision for the future may prove to be a winning formula for the modern age.
Royal patronages undoubtedly come with enormous prestige, but there's only so much one patron can do. By choosing to concentrate their energy and resources on specialised multiyear projects – mental health, homelessness and environmentalism – they have the potential to impact millions of lives.
Embarking on a revised approach may be ambitious, but their combined success in the mental health arena alone suggests their philosophy is working well. Likely to face criticism from some, still the long-term benefits promise to outweigh the perceived short-term loss.
In advance of his 41st birthday, which he celebrated privately on Wednesday, Prince William spoke to Britain's Sunday Times about his "lifelong ambition" to end homelessness.
A consistent advocate for the dispossessed, he was named Patron of Centrepoint, the UK's leading youth homelessness charity, in September 2005. Reflecting his interest in the issue and the people affected by it, it was his first official patronage.
Eager to continue his late mother's legacy – she was Patron of the non-profit from 1992 up until her death – he's used the years since to participate in all aspects of the charity's work.
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"I feel very closely linked to Centrepoint," he said during the organisation's 40th anniversary bash in 2008. "It is a charity with which both my mother and father became passionately involved."
He later invited staff, supporters, ambassadors and young people to St. James' Palace for his first formal dinner and in December 2009 he spent a night sleeping rough with Seyi Obakin, Centrepoint's CEO.
Marking his 40th birthday last year, he drew further attention to the cause by selling copies of The Big Issue alongside veteran vendor Dave Martin.
Far from a fair-weather friend, Prince William's ongoing work in aid of Centrepoint and The Passage for which he also serves as Patron, illustrates the advantages of a career crusade.
It's been 30 years since Diana, Princess of Wales first introduced her sons to the homeless. Taking them to visit a shelter run by The Passage in 1993, they were able to witness the work of the charity first-hand.
Attending an engagement 23 years on, William said, "The visits I made as a child to this place left a deep and lasting impression upon me about how important it is to ensure that everyone in our society, especially the poorest, are treated with dignity and kindness and are given the opportunities to fulfill their potential in life."
Now a parent himself, he told the Sunday Times he wants his children to be exposed at the right time.
"They [will] grow up knowing that actually, do you know what, some of us are very fortunate, some of us need a little bit of a helping hand, some of us need to do a bit more where we can to help others improve their lives."
Determined to do his bit, this month he'll launch a "really big project" created specifically to "prevent" rather than "manage" the homeless epidemic.
Infused with a genuine sense of optimism and hope, William's approached his soon-to-be revealed five-year initiative with the same level of enthusiasm he's shown The Earthshot Prize and his work on behalf of mental health.
Despite alarming statistics, the rapidly rising rate of youth homelessness and the plight of hidden homelessness, he's utilised a can-do attitude and his willingness to effect change is certainly to be admired.
Instead of focusing on the stigma surrounding the topic, he's studied the research, consulted experts, listened to real stories and observed international programs of note. Cognisant of his convening power, he intends to assemble the relevant people and build momentum via proactive means.
"There's no point Centrepoint doing its own thing, or The Passage doing one thing and Crisis doing another," he said.
"You bring them together, and that's the position I feel I'm in. I can act as an umbrella and go, 'Right, this is the plan, this is the aim. We're going to go for it together'."
Refusing to subscribe to a pessimistic ideology, he's seen endless possibility at every turn.
Beyond the patronages they've inherited, legions of royals have chosen their charitable affiliations based on their interests and passions. Committed to their personal causes, they've strived to give each the attention they deserve, but with fewer working members it's becoming increasingly difficult to meet their individual obligations.
Arguably a smart move, the Prince and Princess of Wales's decision to streamline their charitable portfolio is one that's been very well thought out. By investing in early childhood, climate change and the homeless, they're investing in the long-term future of the UK.
Granted it could be a while before the public sees the fruits of their labour, but make no mistake, the appropriate groundwork is being laid.
Aware that instant gratification comes with a high degree of instability, their methods are not designed to effect change overnight; they're about achieving clear-cut results for generations to come.
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2023-06-23 21:05:54Z
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