Queen hands over 25 royal patronages to ease workload in 91st year

The Queen is handing over 25 royal patronages. Photo / AP

The Queen is stepping down as Patron of 25 national organisations to ease her workload in her 91st year.

Her Majesty remains Patron of more than 600 organisations, but the move is recognition of the fact that she cannot be expected to carry out as many public engagements as she has done for decades.

Organisations that are being passed on to other members of the Royal family include the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, better known as Wimbledon, which is to go to tennis fan the Duchess of Cambridge, and Barnardo's, which goes to the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Rugby Football Union has announced that Prince Harry will take over from the Queen as its Patron.

Other high-profile charities and organisations that the Queen is handing over include the NSPCC, Battersea Dogs Home, Save the Children UK and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Buckingham Palace said that many of the organisations already had other members of the Royal family as vice-patrons or presidents, "which will ensure a smooth transition".

The Duke of Edinburgh resigned from a number of patronages when he celebrated his 90th birthday in 2011.

However, the Queen and the Duke dislike any suggestion that they are slowing down, and the fact that they have each retained hundreds of patronages shows their continued commitment to full-time public duties.

The Queen has been Patron of Wimbledon since 1952, the first year of her reign, though she is not a tennis fan and has only taken her place in the royal box a handful of times.

Paying tribute to her years of service, Philip Brook, chairman of the AELTC said: "We would like to thank Her Majesty for her long and unwavering service to The Club and The Championships during her time as our Patron.

"We remain immensely proud of her role in the history of the Club and The Championships.

"We would like to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, who will take up the Queen's former duties as our Patron, and also recognise with appreciation the ongoing contribution of HRH The Duke of Kent, who will continue his long-standing role as our President."

The Duke of Kent is expected to continue presenting the singles trophies at Wimbledon, but the Duchess may be invited to present some of the trophies for doubles.

Royal patronages: The 25 organisations being handed over

• Holocaust Day Memorial Trust
• Royal Institution of Great Britain
• Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
• Battersea Dogs Home
• Barnardo's
• Royal School of Needlework
• Royal African Society
• Welsh Rugby Union
• Amateur Swimming Association
• Action for Children
• All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) Wimbledon
• Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)
• Blind Veterans UK
• Rugby Football Union
• Rugby Football League
• Edinburgh International Festival
• Sport and Recreation Alliance
• British Cycling Federation
• NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
• Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children's Fund
• British Science Association
• Institution of Civil Engineers
• Animal Health Trust
• Royal Geographical Society
• Save the Children UK