King to become patron of Royal British Legion after patronages review

Charles will become the figurehead of the country's leading armed forces charity as it prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the Second World War D-Day landings in the UK and Normandy, on June 6.

The review by the Royal Household featured the close involvement of members of the royal family and focused on organisations the late Queen supported as patron and those Charles and Camilla represented as patron or president before they became King and Queen.

Charles's patronages have increased from 441 to 669, Camilla has an additional 15 and now heads 115 organisations, while the late Queen had 492.

Mark Atkinson, the RBL's director general, said: "The Royal British Legion is extremely proud that his majesty the King is our new patron.

"As the nation's largest military charity, this patronage honours the special relationship that exists between the monarch and the armed forces.

"His majesty's commitment to remembrance and lifelong support to the RBL's welfare work is greatly appreciated by our entire community."

The King, who this week returned to public-facing duties as he continues to be treated for cancer, takes on the RBL role the late Queen held for more than 70 years.

Charles and Camilla will now be joint patrons of the Jockey Club, succeeding the late Queen, who was patron of the organisation responsible for a string of high profile racecourses across the UK.

The King retains his patronage of the Samaritans, a role he has held for more than 25 years, and Camilla will succeed Queen Elizabeth II and take on the presidency of the Sandringham branch of the Women's Institute (WI).

The late Queen was a keen member of her local WI branch and every year allowed the press to accompany her to a meeting.

She held 492 patronages when she died and 376 will be retained by the King, Queen and other members of the royal family.