Queen Elizabeth II was patron of more than 600 charities
Third sector organisations have paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II who has died aged 96.
During her 70 years reign, the queen was patron of more than 600 charities.
Some of these she inherited from her father, George VI, and many of which she had remained patron of for many decades.
These included the British Red Cross, RNIB, RNLI, Cancer Research UK, Girlguiding and RSPCA.
Leading the tributes, Anna Fowlie, chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “On behalf of SCVO, I would like to express my condolences to all those affected by the sad news about Her Majesty, The Queen.
“Her Majesty has been a stalwart supporter of charities and volunteers throughout her life and that legacy will remain for many years to come.”
In 2016 the queen reduced her patronage of several charities in a bid to cut down her workload.
The Royal British Legion said her “unwavering dedication” to the armed forces would be greatly missed.
In a statement, the charity said: “It is with deepest sorrow that the Royal British Legion marks the death of our Sovereign and Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“The Queen has served as Patron of the Royal British Legion since 6 February 1952.
“We are immensely thankful for Her Majesty’s faithful service, and we join the entire Armed Forces community in mourning the loss of its Commander-in-Chief.
“The Queen’s unwavering dedication to the British Armed Forces will be greatly missed. Our sincere condolences are with the Royal Family at this time.”
Cruse Bereavement Support, which also had the Queen’s patronage, said it would support anyone affected by the news of her death.
Its chief executive, Steven Wibberley, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the death of our royal patron and longstanding supporter, Her Majesty the Queen.
“Our thoughts go out to her family and the nation at this time."
Mark Dowie, chief executive of the RNLI, said: "Her Majesty has dedicated 70 years as patron of the RNLI, engaging with and recognising the efforts of thousands of our people.
"We place on record our sincere thanks for Her Majesty’s unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea. Our thoughts are with the royal family and Her Majesty’s loyal subjects across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth."
Matt Stringer, chief executive of the RNIB, where the Queen was a patron for more than 70 years, said: “Her Majesty became RNIB’s patron upon her accession to the throne in 1952, and during this time made a tremendous contribution to our work.
“Her Majesty was a passionate advocate for the rights of blind and partially sighted people and generously hosted many receptions on behalf of our organisation.
“We are immensely grateful for Her Majesty’s long-standing support which has made such a difference to the lives of people with sight loss across the UK.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the royal family and everyone who has been affected by this sad news.”
At RSPCA, which gained Royal approval in 1840, Chris Sherwoood, its chief executive said: “Staff and volunteers across the RSPCA share the nation’s sadness on the passing of our Monarch and Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. During her 70-year reign The Queen was well known for her love of animals and particularly her beloved dogs.
“In 1840 we received royal approval from Queen Victoria and we continue to be extremely proud of our royal heritage. We were honoured to take part in a parade for the Silver Jubilee in 1977, as well as the Patron’s Lunch in 2016. Looking ahead to 2024, we will be awarding a new medal in The Queen’s name to honour those who have made a huge contribution to animal welfare.”
Owen Sharp, chief executive at Dogs Trust said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty the Queen and wish to convey our sympathy to the Royal Family.
“Her Majesty had been our patron since 1990 and, as a world-famous dog lover, her backing was a great help in highlighting the rescue dogs in our care. We will always be grateful for her support.”
