Royal Duties
The Duchess of Cornwall supports her husband The Prince of Wales in his work and role as Heir to the Throne, and also supports a number of charities and organisations in the role of President or Patron. Find out more about The Duchess's charity work.
Since her marriage, Her Royal Highness has travelled widely with The Prince and on her own engagements, meeting people from all over the world and from all walks of life. The Duchess has accompanied The Prince on many overseas tours. In November 2017, The Prince and The Duchess visited Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and India as part of the ten-day Autumn tour.
Her Royal Highness has thirteen military appointments and, with The Prince, supports the work of the Armed Forces in the UK and overseas.
Armed Services
The Duchess supports the work of the British Armed Services both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Her Royal Highness has her own military appointments and accompanies The Prince on many of his visits to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
Her Royal Highness is Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles, Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Medical Services and the Naval Chaplaincy Service, Sponsor of HMS Astute and HMS Prince of Wales, and Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Leeming and RAF Halton.
In November 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, The Duchess of Cornwall took on the role of Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles from her father-in-law, The Duke of Edinburgh, during two ceremonies at Highgrove and Windsor Castle.
The Duchess visits the regiment regularly, meets servicemen and their families, presents service medals and receives regular briefings from the Commanding Officer. In 2006, The Queen appointed The Duchess of Cornwall to the position of Commodore-in-Chief of Royal Naval Medical Services.
In 2008 The Queen approved new Royal Air Force honorary appointments in recognition of the strong links between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Family. The Duchess of Cornwall was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of both RAF Leeming and RAF Halton.
The Duchess also has personal links to military organisations connected to her father Major Bruce Shand, who was awarded two military crosses. Her Royal Highness is Patron and an Honorary Member of the Desert Rats Association. Major Shand, fought with the Desert Rats in the Second World War before being captured during the Battle of El Alamein. The Duchess has attended many occasions with veterans, serving soldiers and officers of the 9th/12th Lancers with whom her father also served.
The Duchess is Patron of Sea Cadet Unit TS Astute which is related to her role as Sponsor of HMS Astute and is a Life Member of the Royal British Legion Women's Section, of which The Princess Royal is President.
In 2011, The Duchess became Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and in 2012 Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police.
In 2013, Her Royal Highness became Patron of the Poppy Factory in Richmond, London. The charity offers veterans with mental and physical health conditions a supportive place of employment, making poppies, wreaths, and other Remembrance products.
Overseas Duties
Every year, Their Royal Highnesses travel abroad at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to further British diplomatic interests, raise the UK’s profile and promote British excellence.
Overseas visits enable Their Royal Highnesses to familiarise themselves with a wide range of international issues and to meet Heads of State and senior officials.
When travelling overseas, The Duchess often undertakes solo engagements that are related to her charities and interests such as literacy and empowering women.
Commonwealth countries account for a large part of Their Royal Highnesses' overseas travel schedule.
