Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Royal family mark 150 years of the British Red Cross

Members of the Royal Family have joined together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the British Red Cross on Tuesday, 4th August.

Kate Middleton says she's been 'deeply moved' by the work of the Red Cross during the Covid-19 pandemic as she pays tribute to her volunteer nurse grandmothers to mark 150th anniversary

* Her Majesty led the royal family in paying tribute to the British Red Cross on evening of its 150th anniversary

* Queen, 94, sent message of congratulations and described charity's work as 'valued and greatly appreciated'

* The Prince of Wales, 71, added that the organisation has shown 'just how powerful kindness can be'

* Kate Middleton, 38, remembered the thousands of staff and volunteers - including her great-grandmother and grandmother, both Red Cross nurses - who 'contributed tirelessly' to the charity's work over the years

The Royal Family has paid tribute to the work of the Duchess of Cambridge’s grandmother and great-grandmother with the British Red Cross as the Queen celebrated the organisation on its 150th anniversary.

Buckingham Palace has released a previously unseen photograph of Valerie Middleton, the mother of Kate’s father Michael, who served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment with the British Red Cross in the Second World War.

The duchess herself, writing to 150 outstanding Red Cross staff and volunteers who have received a commemorative coin from the Royal Mint in recognition of their efforts, described how her great-grandmother, Olive Middleton, volunteered as a Red Cross nurse during the First World War, while Valerie Middleton performed the same role during the Second World War.

Kate penned in her letter: ‘Like you and many others, they are both part of the rich history of the British Red Cross, which is helping to ensure many people get the support they need during a crisis.

‘In recent months, I have been deeply moved by the work you and your colleagues have continued to do throughout the coronavirus pandemic. You have all been doing an inspiring job supporting vulnerable people.’

The British Red Cross celebrates its milestone on Tuesday, 150 years to the day after a resolution was passed at a public meeting in London to form an organisation ‘for aiding sick and wounded soldiers in time of war’.

Established a few weeks after the outbreak of war between France and Prussia, the British National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War would later be renamed the British Red Cross.

The Queen has served as the charity’s patron for almost 65 years and sent a message of congratulations to volunteers and staff to thank them for their dedicated work supporting some of the most vulnerable people both at home and abroad.

She said: ‘Whether those involved in the society are assisting people to return home from hospital safely, offering care and support in the aftermath of a disaster, volunteering in a shop, administering first aid or some of the many other activities the British Red Cross encompasses, their contribution is recognised, valued and greatly appreciated.’

Prince Charles, who has been president of the Red Cross since 2003, has also recorded a video to introduce a new online exhibition - 150 Voices - as part of the anniversary.





Her Majesty hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace in London, to mark the work of The Queen's Trust. The Queen has led the royal family in paying tribute to the British Red Cross on the eve of its 150th anniversary, describing the charity's work as 'valued and greatly appreciated'



The Prince of Wales, President of the British Red Cross with Deputy President Princess Alexandra, posing with nurses dressed in World War 1 uniform during a garden party in honour of the society at Buckingham Palace, London



A letter written by Queen Elizabeth II to the British Red Cross to thank staff and volunteers in recognition of their 150th birthday


The virtual event showcases 150 objects from the British Red Cross museum and archives collection, including a letter from Florence Nightingale, a First World War ambulance driver’s cap and a food parcel distributed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent during the Syria crisis.

In his message, the heir to the throne says the organisation demonstrates ‘just how powerful kindness can be’ and that its efforts were ‘as essential today as it has ever been’.

Volunteers have helped the charity deliver over 200,000 acts of kindness since the coronavirus outbreak, such as providing transport for people to and from hospital, delivering food and medication, or offering welfare support to those shielding.

The prince says: ‘Through giving relief to those affected by war and conflict, supporting refugees, providing health and social care in peacetime and helping people and communities hit by natural disasters, the British Red Cross has for 150 years shown just how powerful kindness can be.

‘None of this would have been possible of course without the extraordinary dedication of the British Red Cross volunteers. Their conspicuous humanity in times of crisis offers an inspiration to us all.

‘The work of the Red Cross is as essential today as it has ever been, helping those in need both in the United Kingdom and around the world, strengthening our communities and supporting people to face the challenges of an ever-changing and unpredictable world.’

Princess Alexandra, the British Red Cross’ deputy president, also spoke last week to one recipient of Kate’s letter, Anne Taylor, 87, and heard about her experiences as one of the charity’s longest-serving volunteers.

She has volunteered with the charity for 80 years, having first joined in 1940 to support the charity’s work during the Second World War.

The Royal Family has had a long association with the Red Cross, from its very first patron, Queen Victoria, in 1870.

In 1885, the future Queen Alexandra formed her own Red Cross branch to raise money to help the sick and wounded in the war, and Princess Mary, the daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, also served as a Red Cross nurse between 1918-20.

Mike Adamson, chief executive of the British Red Cross said: 'Throughout our history it is the kindness of our volunteers, as well as the generosity of our supporters that has meant we can be there for people when they need us most, wherever they are and whomever they may be.'

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×