The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has announced His Majesty King Charles III as its new patron.
The announcement marks decades of continuous royal patronage of veterinary association, following Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s support up until her death in 2022, the BVA said.
King Charles III has recently also been announced as the patron of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) and Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
BVA president, Dr Anna Judson, said the association is honoured to welcome the King as its new patron.
“This ongoing royal commitment recognises the vital contribution vets make to animal welfare and their critical role in society, from taking care of the nation’s pets through to ensuring animal welfare in food production, public health and international trade,” she said.
“On behalf of our members, we’d like to thank His Majesty for his commitment to BVA, our profession and the work we do.”
RABDF patronage
The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) said it was “delighted” to announce His Majesty King Charles III as its new patron.
The king, who has a “longstanding interest” in British farming and a “passion” for the environment, succeeds the late Queen Elizabeth II in his patronage.
It follows a review of more than 1,000 royal patronages since the king ascended to the throne in 2022, bringing the total number he holds to 669.
Chair of the RABDF, Robert Craig said that King Charles III becoming the patronage of its charity means “so much”.
Craig added that “his late mother was our patron for many years and we are delighted that the monarch is carrying on in that role”.
The RABDF has a “long-established relationship” with the Royal Family, providing vital publicity and recognition for the work of the association and the dairy industry.
The Royal Family has supported many dairy awards organised by the RABDF, including the Princess Royal Award, Royal Dairy Innovation Award and the former Prince Philip Award, which recognises excellence within the industry.
