Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Give Prince William an Important New Set of Roles

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

From Oprah Magazine

As Queen Elizabeth settles in to her mid-90s, she's sharing her royal responsibilities with some of the younger members of her family. Today, Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince William has taken on two new environmental patronages handed over to him by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The first, Fauna & Flora International (FFI), which self-identifies as the "world’s oldest international wildlife conservation organisation" and works to preserve biodiversity, has been a patronage of the Queen's for nearly 70 years.

“Her Majesty has provided stalwart support to FFI and we are extremely grateful for the sterling support and encouragement that she has provided throughout the past seven decades,” said Mark Rose, Chief Executive Officer of FFI.

“We look forward to building on her legacy and taking the relationship forward with her grandson. The Duke of Cambridge is a wonderful ambassador for conservation and there is a great deal of synergy between his own and FFI’s vision for the future of the planet.”

The second patronage Prince William received today is one close to his grandfather's heart, the British Trust for Ornithology, an organization which "aims to empower communities to protect local bird species and their natural habitats." Prince Philip has served as patron of the group for more than 30 years; per Buckingham Palace, his passion for ornithology (the scientific study of birds) stemmed from a 1956-57 tour of the southern Pacific Ocean and the Antarctic.

“I am delighted that The Duke of Cambridge has become our Patron, following on from his grandfather who worked so tirelessly on our behalf,” said Dr. Andy Clements, the Chief Executive of BTO. “We hope that we will be able to support The Duke’s strong interest in protecting the environment through our evidence-based work around environmental issues in the UK.”

Photo credit: Buckingham Palace
Photo credit: Buckingham Palace

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