United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_Queen Camilla spoke with residents and school children as she helped celebrate the 850th anniversary of St John’s Foundation in Bath by enjoying tea with residents. Crowds flooded to Bath city centre to get a glimpse of Her Majesty on a Royal Visit on Thursday (February 1) while she was greeted by excited schoolchildren in Bath.
St John’s launched its Foundation Fund in 2020, which aims to ensure every child under 12 can grow up being healthy, happy, and educated.
The charity continues its work alongside this, providing older people with housing and outreach services.
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Her Majesty met with hundreds of schoolchildren from across the region outside Bath Abbey this afternoon (Thursday 1 February) as she attended a service celebrating the 850th anniversary of a local charity.
Anticipation was building amongst them as we spoke to some of the schoolchildren awaiting her arrival. One said they were really excited, never having seen the queen before.
Another said they were excited and happy and would probably always remember it.
Her Majesty Queen Camilla travelled to Bath to mark the anniversary of the St John’s Foundation, established in 1174 to tackle poverty and poor living conditions in Bath. It is one of the oldest charities in the United Kingdom, helping those in need in Bath and the surrounding areas and to mark the occasion their royal patron unveiled a commemorative plaque.
The Queen received a warm reception from waving and cheering onlookers when she visited the city of Bath. Queen Camilla met trustees and elderly people at St John’s Foundation where she had tea and cake and chatted. Her Majesty then spoke to and shook hands with school children in the sunshine as she walked to Bath Abbey where she attended a service of celebration before unveiling a plaque.
Her Majesty became Patron of St John’s Foundation in 2009, a charity that works to change people’s lives around Bath and its surrounding area. Her Majesty was welcomed by Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset Mohammed Saddiq during a visit to St John’s Foundation almshouses at the Chapel of St Michael Within and met Ben Fletcher, the charity’s chair, and CEO David Hobdey.
Her Majesty Queen Camilla made her way into the 16th Century Chapel of St Michael Within and spoke to the charity’s residents over a cup of tea. From here, Her Majesty moved to Bath Abbey and was greeted outside by almost 900 school children from seven primary schools, which have been supported by St John’s since it launched its Foundation Fund in 2020.
Queen Camilla smiled while she greeted school children and members of the public in Bath city centre. Her Majesty was welcomed in Bath Abbey, by St John’s Reverend Jacky Wise, the Rector of Bath Abbey Reverend Canon Guy Bridgewater and the Bishop of Bath and Wells and Right Reverend Michael Beasley. During the Service, the Voices for Life choir, performed ‘A Million Dreams’ and ‘Sing’.
One of St John’s almshouse residents undertook a reading before Her Majesty unveiled a commemorative plaque, that will subsequently be placed in the courtyard of the Chapel Court almshouses.
Her Majesty was introduced to headteachers from the seven schools that St John’s works with and representatives from a number of St John’s supporting partners on her departure from Bath Abbey.
Originally founded as a medieval refuge, St John’s Foundation, provides shelter and support for older adults, as well as working with children to make sure they have the best start in life. Her Majesty last saw the work of St John’s Foundation during a visit in February 2022 to Roundhill Primary School in Bath.
Queen Camilla is carrying out royal engagements as normal while the King was receiving treatment. Her Majesty said during a visit at Maggie’s centre at the Royal Free Hospital on Wednesday, “He’s getting on, doing his best” and thanked well wishers.
