We are saddened at the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, the longest reigning monarch in British history.
The Society was privileged to have Her Majesty as our patron for over 60 years between 1953 and 2016 – she was a committed and engaged supporter of the Society and our objectives.
At the beginning of her patronage, Her Majesty, along with His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, attended a lecture given at the Royal Festival Hall by Brigadier Sir John Hunt, Sir Edmund Hillary and others, and the royal premiere of the film marking the successful ascent of Everest in 1953. Both Her Majesty and His Royal Highness had taken great personal interest in the progress of the expedition and its successful outcome.
Some 10 years later at the 20th International Geographical Congress, Her Majesty opened the proceedings and stressed the importance of international cooperation in geographical research. She also highlighted the importance of geographers in recording and interpreting the impact of the profound changes in both human and physical environments witnessed over the previous decades.
Throughout her life, Her Majesty supported numerous charities on a wide range of issues, not least the preservation of wildlife and the environment. The Society is indebted to Her Majesty for her many years of patronage and support.
A book of condolence will be available at Reception and in the Members’ Area of our website for any Fellows and Members who wish to sign it. A small display from our Collections remembering the life of Her Majesty will also be available to view online in the days leading up to Her Majesty’s funeral.
Read Her Majesty's obituary
See our online exhibition of items from the Society's Collections related to the Queen.