Our Patron
Her Majesty The Queen
The charity was honoured when Her Majesty The Queen became our Patron in May 2024, having previously held the position of the President of Royal Voluntary Service since December 2012.
Her Majesty’s initial Presidency came at a pivotal time in Royal Voluntary Service history as we celebrated our 75th anniversary and showcased the vital role our charity has played in the lives of many. Since then, Her Majesty’s support has been instrumental in helping the charity to celebrate volunteers and showcase its impact in communities across the nation.
Her Majesty often shares her belief that volunteers are the backbone of Britain. Over the years she has visited many of our services to meet and pay tribute to our volunteers.
At key moments in our nation’s history, Her Majesty has been at the forefront of Royal Voluntary Service projects to celebrate the country’s remarkable volunteers - Diamond Champions Awards, Platinum Champions Awards and Coronation Champions Awards. In supporting our efforts to recognise our communities’ most outstanding volunteers, Her Majesty demonstrates her commitment to recognising the vital role volunteers play in society.
Image: Her Majesty The Queen, meeting Platinum Champions at the Big Lunch at The Oval in London 2023 celebrating the Platinum Jubilee.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Royal Voluntary Service patronage was previously held by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who became Patron of WVS on 22 July 1952. In 1966, in recognition of the organisation’s work for the people of Great Britain, Her Majesty granted WVS the honour of adding Royal to its title, from then on being known as WRVS until 2013 when the organisation changed its name once again to Royal Voluntary Service.
Her grandmother Queen Mary was the first Patron, granting her patronage to WVS only three days after the organisation had been formed by Lady Reading on 20 May 1938 and her mother Queen Elizabeth was President of WVS from December that same year.
As Princess Elizabeth, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited WVS headquarters in London on several occasions during and after the war, and we have always been willing to assist our Patron in whatever way we can. We packed and dispatched food parcels from presents sent as wedding gifts to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Phillip in 1947, and helped sort and reply to the Silver Jubilee mail.
Image: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II meeting WRVS volunteers at the opening of Queen Elizabeth Close, Norwich, in April 1975. The Close was a housing development for older people built by the WRVS Housing Association.