- The King will serve as Royal Patron of the newly established independent charity.
- The Trust will focus on regenerating shared spaces that bring people together.
- The charity will provide a lasting legacy for the late Queen, who devoted so much of her life to recognising the importance of service to others.
A new UK-wide independent charity, the Queen Elizabeth Trust, has been established on the occasion of the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth to honour her lifelong commitment to public service.
His Majesty The King has accepted the Royal Patronage of the Trust, which will bring the late Queen’s values to life for present and future generations.
The Trust is one of three related memorial projects—alongside a national memorial in St James’s Park and a digital memorial—to honour her legacy at local, national, and global levels. These plans are being formally unveiled on Tuesday to mark what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s hundredth birthday.
Inspired by the late Queen’s stated belief that “everyone is our neighbour”, the Trust will work hand in hand with communities, providing funding and targeted support to restore and sustain shared spaces at the heart of local life.
To ensure the Trust can have the widest positive impact, the Government is providing a one-off £40 million endowment. This provides the initial funding needed to support local projects of public value and will act as a catalyst for future fundraising.
Local projects could include the development and transformation of underused buildings and green spaces as well as neighbourhood hubs in communities across the UK. Funding will also help communities ensure they have access to the skills and training they require to deliver local events.
This contribution continues a long-standing tradition of honouring the monarch through living memorials that make a real difference in people’s lives. Including the King George V Playing Fields, established nearly a century ago, which protect public open spaces and recreational grounds across the UK.
The Queen Elizabeth Trust will ensure Her late Majesty is remembered for her unique ability to bring people together across generations and from all walks of life.
Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, said
I’m honoured and excited to have been chosen as the founding Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust to help guide its direction from the start. This is a real chance to support communities across the United Kingdom and bring shared spaces back to life places where people of all ages and backgrounds can meet, connect, and belong.
I’ve seen first-hand the difference these spaces can make, creating opportunities, sparking connections, and giving people a sense of pride in where they live. At a time when so many feel disconnected, this work feels more important than ever.
As an organisation, we’re ambitious about what we can achieve, and our goal is to significantly increase our impact by attracting support from others. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves, listening and learning from communities, and seeing what we can make happen.
Lord Janvrin, Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, said
I hope this new charity will encourage people to remember the life and service of the late Queen by recognising the importance she attached to strengthening that sense of engagement and belonging amongst local communities.
The Trust is the result of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee’s recommendation, following over two years of engagement with diverse groups across the UK.
The focus of the Trust was shaped through extensive conversations with community groups, charities, and leaders across the four nations. These discussions brought together a diverse range of perspectives from policymakers, government experts, and major legacy programmes.
Further information on the funding criteria will be shared in the coming months.