Celebrating the life of our Patron, Her Majesty the Queen
As the nation mourns the death of Her Majesty the Queen, the RAF Benevolent Fund would like to celebrate her life, and unwavering dedication to the country following a historic 70 years on the throne. The Queen showed an inspirational sense of duty during her reign and, as the RAF Benevolent Fund's Patron from 1952 until her death, provided endless support for those who served her country, including the RAF Family.
The Armed Forces were hugely important to Her Majesty, having joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945, and becoming the first female member of The Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member. The Queen maintained close relationships with the Armed Forces through regular trips to military bases and visits with servicemen and women of all ranks, and their families, both at home and overseas. Additionally, The Queen led the nation in paying respects to the fallen each year on Remembrance Sunday, and her birthday was celebrated annually with the great military display of Trooping of the Colour, where Her Majesty attended on horseback dressed in military uniform.
Her Majesty tirelessly supported the Fund's work for decades – with some highlights including the unveiling of the Fund's Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London; visiting children at the Fund’s Airplay youth club at RAF Lossiemouth in 2014; and the Patron's Lunch on the Mall to celebrate The Queen's 90th birthday, which RAF Benevolent Fund Ambassador Jacqui Thompson attended and said of The Queen's appearance: "The sun came out for her and shined."
The Queen demonstrated during her reign the true spirit of public service and integrity, and the significance of the military service. As Her Majesty poignantly once said: "I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else – I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations."