The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted the inaugural regatta The King’s Cup in summer 2019 to raise awareness and funds for eight of Their Royal Highnesses’ patronages.
The event took place on Thursday 8th August on the Isle of Wight, and saw The Duke and Duchess go head to head as skippers of individual sailing boats, in an eight boat regatta race. The winning team, Tusk, was awarded The King’s Cup, a historic trophy first presented by King George V at Cowes’ Royal Yacht Squadron in 1920.
Their Royal Highnesses hope that The King’s Cup will become an annual event, bringing greater awareness to the wider benefits of sport, whist also raising support and funds for the causes that The Duke and Duchess support.
The launch
The King’s Cup was officially launched on Tuesday 7th May at an event at the Cutty Sark attended by Their Royal Highnesses.
The Duke and Duchess joined children and young people from a number of their chosen charities as they take part in a simulated sailing race, before joining guests to unveil The King’s Cup.
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The charities
The eight boats taking part in The King’s Cup will each represent one of the charities that are being supported this year by Their Royal Highnesses.
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals both when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, and when a child is facing bereavement. The Duke of Cambridge has been Royal Patron of Child Bereavement UK since 2009.
Centrepoint
Centrepoint is the UK's leading youth homelessness charity, and supports over 10,000 homeless young people each year. The Duke of Cambridge has been Patron since 2005, following in the footsteps of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
The London Air Ambulance Charity 30th Anniversary Campaign
London’s Air Ambulance delivers an advanced trauma team to London’s most seriously injured patients. Using a helicopter from 08:00 to sunset, and rapid response cars at night or in adverse weather situations, London’s Air Ambulance brings the hospital to the patient when time is critical.
The Duke of Cambridge became Patron of the London Air Ambulance Charity 30th Anniversary Campaign in 2019. The campaign aims to highlight the charity’s vital work in delivering life-saving treatment across London, and raise support for the development of new facilities.
Tusk
For almost thirty years, Tusk has supported forward-thinking and successful conservation intervention in Africa. The Duke of Cambridge became Royal Patron of Tusk in 2005.
Action on Addiction
Action on Addiction delivering effective programmes to support those affected by addiction to drugs and alcohol, their children and families. The Duchess of Cambridge became Patron in 2012.
Place2Be
Place2Be provides emotional and therapeutic services in primary and secondary schools, building children's resilience through talking, creative work and play. The Duchess of Cambridge became Patron in 2013.
The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
The Anna Freud Centre is a children's mental health charity, which is working to reduce the burden of mental health difficulties of children and young people. The Duchess of Cambridge became Patron in 2016.
The Royal Foundation in connection with Her Royal Highness’s work on Early Years.
The Duke and Duchess are strong advocates for sport, and have undertaken work both in the UK and overseas to highlight the positive impact that sport can have on the individual and within local communities.
The Duchess in particular champions how the benefits of sport, nature and the outdoors can impact childhood development, and lead to improved physical and mental wellbeing for all.
The Regatta
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge competed against one another and six other teams in state of the art Fast-40 boats on Thursday 8th August.
The winning team, Tusk, along with their ambassador Bear Grylls, were awarded The King’s Cup trophy at a public prize, held at the SailGP Race Village.
Thousands of members of the public watched the race from the SailGP Race Village in a 500-seater grandstand.
