The Prince of Wales has quietly taken on one of his most
significant military roles to date, agreeing to serve as patron of
the SAS Regimental Association, the charity that supports serving
and former members of Britain’s most secretive special forces unit
and their families.
The Daily Mirror reports that
HRH accepted the appointment privately after visiting the regiment,
becoming the first member of the Royal Family to act as patron of
the association. Military sources said the prince spoke of his
“great pride” in representing the organisation and in helping to
safeguard the welfare of soldiers whose work is rarely acknowledged
publicly.
Founded in the aftermath of the Second World War, the SAS
Regimental Association provides lifelong support to members of the
elite force, as well as to widows and dependants. Based in
Hereford, it has assisted thousands of families since its creation
in 1945, operating under a principle that no genuine case is ever
turned away.
Those familiar with the discussions said the prince was keen to
ensure that the achievements and sacrifices of SAS personnel
continue to be recognised, despite the necessarily discreet nature
of their service. He is also said to have expressed particular
concern for the families who live with the pressures and
uncertainties that accompany life in the regiment.
The appointment is regarded within military circles as a morale
boost for both serving soldiers and veterans. The SAS, whose motto
“Who Dares Wins” has become synonymous with British special forces,
has played a decisive role in counter-terrorism operations and
overseas missions for decades, most famously during the Iranian
Embassy siege in London in 1980.
The development comes as the Prince and Princess of Wales
released their Christmas card for 2025, featuring a relaxed family
portrait taken in the Norfolk countryside earlier this year. Shared
on Kensington Palace’s social media channels, the image showed the
couple with their three children in informal country dress,
accompanied by a message wishing the public a happy Christmas.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source royalcentral.co.uk ’
