Marking the coronation

As the country celebrates King Charles’s coronation, we would like to pay homage to our new monarch and the royal legacy that has been entwined with our charity since 1920.

The Royal Family has played a key role in RoSPA’s mission, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II being our patron for over 70 years. In 2017, we were invited to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to mark our centenary and formally celebrate
our work.

RoSPA is the only royal society in the field of health and safety and has a long royal lineage that goes back over a century, when the then Duke of York (the future George VI) became our President and then later became Patron in 1926.

King Charles III’s accession as the Head of State is a truly historic moment that we at RoSPA celebrate and welcome.

Just as the monarchy is there to serve the people, so too is RoSPA. And like the royal family’s dedication to serving countries at home and abroad in the commonwealth, we remain committed to being a mission-led charity, going where we are needed most.

We look forward to continuing our royal relationship and wish King Charles III every success as heir to the throne.

RoSPA's royal history

1920

Our connection with the Royal Family began in 1920, when the then Duke of York (the future George VI) became the President of the National "Safety First" Association (RoSPA’s former name) and then later became Patron in 1926.

1936

In December 1936, the Abdication of King Edward VIII led to the Duke of York becoming King, with his patronage continuing.

1941

On January 8, 1941, the National “Safety First” Association officially became the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, following official approval from King George VI.

1949

RoSPA’s first contact with the future Queen happened in 1949, when the then Princess Elizabeth visited RoSPA’s road safety training centre at RoSPA House.

1952

Just three years later, Elizabeth became Queen – and our new Patron – following the death of her father.

1964

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was President of RoSPA’s World Congress on the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Diseases in 1964 and became President of RoSPA in 1965, a post he held until 1968.

1965

Prince Phillip acted as an ambassador for industrial safety, urging employers to increase their accident prevention activities and highlighting the individual tragedies that industrial accidents and diseases can bring to ordinary families.

1966

During the Duke’s presidency, RoSPA ran its biggest-ever campaign – Stop Accidents Year in 1967 – during which deaths from accidents fell by 1,500. There was also success in some of RoSPA’s other campaigns during the time Prince Philip was President – drink-drive legislation was introduced, and a three-year daylight-saving experiment began, which was found to have saved around 2,500 deaths and serious injuries each year of the trial period.

1967

In 1966, we celebrated our Golden Jubilee, with Her Majesty sending us a message of support and, alongside Prince Philip, visiting our Golden Jubilee Transportable Exhibition.

1967+

This was also the year in which HRH Princess Anne passed her cycling proficiency test, along with more than 150,000 other children.

1979

Princess Michael of Kent, wife to the Queen’s cousin, became the first president of the Tufty Club, our nationwide network of local road safety groups for children, in 1979.

1992

Later, in 1992 HRH the Princess of Wales attended a Guildhall reception to mark our 75th anniversary.

1996

Our 80th anniversary, in 1996 marked the beginning of a new tradition, with HRH Queen Elizabeth sending us a letter to be included in its Annual Report. This continued in every year of her Patronage.

2012

To mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, we presented a special Diamond Jubilee Award. The winner was the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), which was recognised for the safety and health achievements of the Big Build construction phase for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

2017

In 2017 we celebrated our 100-year anniversary with a Centenary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, attended by 3,500 supporters, members, award winners, friends and staff.

2017+

That year also saw our Brighter Beginnings appeal receive a gift of £2,500 from The Patron’s Fund, was set up to acknowledge the work of the charitable organisations for which The Queen acted as Patron, on her 90th birthday.