A tribute from the Grand President
General The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO DL

HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Between 1952 and 2022 we could not have been more fortunate that Her Majesty chose to be our Patron. For 70 years she remained committed to those Commonwealth veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom and to their widows. Her Majesty
showed a continuous, and personal interest, in the Charity throughout, receiving regular updates on the issues affecting the veterans and widows in our care.
The League was formed in February 1921 at the Empire Conference held in Cape Town and attended by Earl Haig and General Smuts. The United Kingdom with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa are the Founder Members. The object of the League is to ensure that no man or woman who served the Crown should be without help if in
need.
Past and present members of our Family of Nations were all greatly honoured to have received the support, influence and companionship of Her Majesty for 70 of our 101 years of existence. There is no doubt that her engagement has contributed significantly to our longevity and tens of thousands of Commonwealth veterans and their widows have been lifted out of poverty, affording some dignity in the knowledge they have not been forgotten. 

She will be greatly missed by all our veterans and widows in Commonwealth countries across the world.

RCEL - Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League - Registered Charity No. 1174874 - Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA, United Kingdom - Telephone +44 (0)20 3207 2413

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