Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge has officially unveiled which four charities she will become patron of, in her new life as a member of the British Royal Family, all of whom have a traditionally heavy schedule of involvements with national charities.
The Duchess is to become patron of Action on Addiction, the National Portrait Gallery, the East Anglia's Children's Hospices, and The Art Room, reflecting her interest in social issues, art and children's health. The least-known of the four, The Art Room, is an Oxford-based charity which seeks to engage with 5-16 year-olds with behavioural issues. Julie Beattie, the founder and director of The Art Room, said she and the entire organisation were "overwhelmed and thrilled" by the Duchess's decision to become their royal patron. She went on to say that "it will raise the profile of the charity and get people to see the work we are doing." The Duchess is understood to have spent the time since her marriage deciding carefully which charities to begin her royal career with.
The official announcement was made by the Court at Saint James's Palace.
Her Royal Highness will celebrate her thirtieth birthday on Monday.
I think the National Portrait Gallery and the East Anglia's Children's Hospices are perfectly admirable and respectable charities to take on. Great choices!
ReplyDeleteBut I wonder if there are some human conditions that are clearly not respectable, especially when royalty might be involved. I am thinking of schoolgirl mums, drug addicted teens, husbands who beat their wives, soldiers with post traumatic stress disorders etc.
How free was the Duchess of Cambridge to select her favourite charities? When she was interested in Action on Addiction, for example, did she have to fight off the nay-sayers?