Public Work
The Duke of York carries out a wide range of public duties in the UK and overseas. In 2010/11 His Royal Highness undertook a total of 619 engagements in the UK and Overseas. Of these, 468 were business related in his capacity as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.
Some of his engagements are carried out in support of The Queen, representing the UK at official ceremonies and overseas.
Others are connected to organisations with which The Duke of York is associated. He has links to more than 100 different organisations. Many are connected to his profession as a pilot and career in the Royal Navy.
These include his appointments as the Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club (1986), President of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain (1982), Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (1995), and Patron of the Tall Ships Youth Trust (2005).
His professional concern for his senses has led to him taking on the patronage of the Fight For Sight (1989), Defeating Deafness (1986), the British Deaf Association (1997) and the Commonwealth Society for the Deaf (1997), as well as the Jubilee Sailing Trust (1984).
In recent years the Duke has widened his range of interests, reflecting his concern for young people and for the promotion of the United Kingdom.
These included becoming Chairman of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s campaign to end child cruelty (1999) – The Full Stop Campaign, which finished in 2008. He is also President of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, which represents Britain’s top tourist destinations.
The Duke has strong personal interest in the arts. In 2001 he was invited to take on the patronage of the English National Ballet, whose previous patron was The Princess of Wales. He has also been Patron of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra since 2003.
As well as these patronages, the Duke has roles in education. He is the Visitor at Royal Hospital School Holbrook (1992), the school that used to be housed in what is now the National Maritime Museum and Patron of the Academy being set up by Wellington College at Luggershall.
He is the Patron of the Greenwich Hospital (1994), which owns the whole of the Greenwich buildings that were the Royal Naval College, The Dreadnought Hospital and the National Maritime Museum.
The Duke also maintains very close links with his own educational establishments as Patron of Round Square (1990) and Trustee of Lakefield College School (1978).
The Duke of York is passionate about enabling youth to fulfil their potential. He devotes considerable time to The Outward Bound Trust (1998) as the Executive Chairman of the Trustees. He succeeded The Duke of Edinburgh in this role in 1999. Outward Bound aims to inspire young people to fulfil their potential through challenging outdoor activities, and to instil qualities of leadership in young people. In the same vein, His Royal Highness is also Patron of the British Schools Exploring Society and the Sea Cadets.