UK Jewry’s oldest charity has announced that His Majesty King Charles III has become its royal patron.
Norwood, which supports vulnerable children and families and people with learning disabilities and autism, has enjoyed royal patronage throughout its history, beginning with the Duke of Sussex, Prince Augustus Frederick in 1815 when Norwood was in its earliest incarnation as The Jews’ Hospital.
HM Queen Elizabeth II upheld the precedent set by four former sovereigns, including her late father King George VI, of being the charity’s patron.
Norwood said they were “thrilled and humbled” to learn HM King Charles would maintain royal patronage of the charity. It follows a several months’ long review of the patronages of the royal household.
Norwood’s CEO, Naomi Dickson said: “I am delighted and honoured that His Majesty has conferred his patronage on Norwood. This is a sign of the respect in which he holds the charity, and of the importance of the vital service we provide to the community. We are very much looking forward, with excitement, to working with our new royal patron over the years to come.”
Norwood’s chair, Miles Webber, added the announcement came at a “pivotal time” for the organisation, “with a new chair and CEO in place, and at a point when we are reviewing our organisational values and strategy”.
He added: “We look forward to enjoying his support as we move forward into our next chapter,” he said.
HM King Charles has also retained royal patronage of World Jewish Relief, having served in that capacity since 2015.
King Charles first became involved with WJR in 2002, following a visit to Krakow’s Jewish community.
King Charles addressing a World Jewish Relief dinner in 2017 (Photo: World Jewish Relief)
Motivated by his experience, His Majesty opened the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow in 2008, in partnership with WJR, to help rebuild Jewish life in the city. In more recent years, His Majesty has attended its annual dinner and visited its north London office.
Maurice Helfgott, chair of WJR, said King Charles had “long been a great friend to both the Jewish community and the humanitarian community, and we are incredibly proud to call him our royal patron. His strong personal interest and commitment to our work is hugely motivating and inspiring to our team, partners and those whom we support – here in the UK and globally.
“In the face of many real and acute challenges, we remain committed and dedicated to delivering lifesaving and life-changing work to those experiencing the effects of crisis, conflict and disaster across the world, and we are honoured to be recognised in this way by His Majesty. We wish warm congratulations to all the exceptional charities receiving Royal Patronage.”
King Charles, with members of JLGB, where he continues to be royal patron (Photo: JLGB)
HM King Charles will also retain his patronage of the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade (JLGB), the UK’s oldest Jewish youth organisation.
Welcoming the announcement, Neil Martin, OBE, chief executive of JLGB, said: “We are profoundly honoured that His Majesty The King has chosen to continue his patronage with JLGB. As we approach the 130th anniversary of our founding in 2025, this royal endorsement not only recognises our historic contributions but also reinvigorates our resolve to empower the next generation of children and young people.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla lighting candles for Holocaust Memorial Day (Photo: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust)
King Charles will also continue to be royal patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, a position he has held since 2015 after taking over from the Queen.
