HRH Princess Elizabeth first became involved with our work in 1944 when she became President of the Student Nurses Association.
After her coronation in 1953, HM Queen Elizabeth II accepted the invitation to become Patron of the RCN. Her sister, Princess Margaret, had an interest in education and stepped into the Queen’s former role.
Celebrating jubilees
Loyal addresses (statements of loyalty) have been sent from the RCN each time the Queen marked a major event in her life or jubilee celebration of her reign.
The Queen reciprocated with support for the College’s jubilees – silver in 1941; gold in 1966; 60th in 1976 and 75th in 1991.
Cutting the ribbon
In her role as patron, HM Queen Elizabeth II visited and officially opened the new headquarters of the RCN Scottish Board in Edinburgh in 1994. But she visited our offices way before that.
In 1945 she opened the RCN library at its headquarters in London as HRH Princess Elizabeth. She also opened the headquarters of the RCN Scottish Board as HM Queen Elizabeth in 1952.
Film premier
In her role as President of the Student Nurses Association, the then Princess Elizabeth attended the premier of ‘The Lady with a Lamp’ in 1951 which formed part of the fundraising appeal to raise money for the College’s Educational Funds to promote post registration education among nurses.
These funds are now managed and administered by the RCN Foundation.
Marking International Nurses' Day
As recently as 2020, Queen Elizabeth II, alongside other members of the Royal Family, marked International Nurses’ Day, paying tribute to the world’s nurses, including here in the UK, during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recognising the role of nurses during the pandemic, the Queen said nurses have had a very important part to play.
Our royal history
Fiona Bourne, RCN archives manager looks back
"It was just 10 years after the RCN was founded that the RCN got a royal patron, in 1926. Queen Mary was our first official patron and two years later the College was granted a Royal Charter.
"As the country was shaken with the outbreak of World War Two in 1939, King George VI conferred the title ‘Royal’ on the College. We were playing a vital role in ensuring the supply of nurses for the war effort through the RCN War Emergency Committee.
"Both HRH Princess Margaret and HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, were also RCN patrons up until their deaths in 2002.
"HRH Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t our first patron, but she was our longest serving. And when you consider her previous association with the Students Nursing Association, it really was a remarkable partnership stretching back more than 75 years."
More information
- Please share a message or memory for Queen Elizabeth II in our online book of condolence.
- RCN remembers Queen Elizabeth II: College leaders express condolences and sadness at the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
