Royal recognition: Princess Anne sends letter to veterans for charity's 110th anniversary
As Royal Star & Garter Homes celebrates 110 years of compassionate care for veterans and their partners living with disability and dementia, residents were honoured with a letter from their patron – Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.
Princess Anne sent them her "best wishes for a wonderful celebration" as the charity marked its landmark anniversary.
Established on 14 January 1916, Royal Star & Garter began its lifelong commitment to caring for severely injured men returning from the battlegrounds of the First World War, following expressed concern from Queen Mary.
She tasked the British Red Cross Society with finding a "permanent haven" for severely disabled young men returning from the war, and the charity was born.
More than a century of care
In her letter, the princess highlighted key moments in the charity's history, including its involvement in the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games – which laid the foundations for the Paralympic Games – and the sale of its home on Richmond Hill in 2013, which helped fund three new state-of-the-art facilities.
She also spoke about her recent visit to Surbiton, where she met residents and staff during her first engagement as the charity's patron.
Princess Anne's letter concluded: "As patron of Royal Star & Garter, I look forward to meeting many more of you in the coming years and send you my best wishes for a wonderful celebration."
Marking the milestone across the charity
Celebrations took place across the charity's homes in Surbiton, Solihull, High Wycombe and Worthing to mark the charity's official birthday.
Further celebrations followed, when oak trees were planted in each of their gardens to commemorate the occasion and tie in with the nationwide community-led Veterans' Oak initiative.
Charity chair Roicgard Williams said: "The letter from The Princess Royal is a wonderful gift from our patron to our residents, and the planting of the oak trees, which symbolise strength, endurance and our belief in the future, will act as a living reminder of this anniversary for many years to come.
"This is a particular moment of pride and reflection and reminds us that we must build on our storied past to secure our services for future beneficiaries. Since 1916, we have provided exceptional care and unwavering support to veterans and their families.
"Today, as we plan to expand our services further, we look forward to continuing our necessary work."
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