Royal Visits to Devon
In Devon we are lucky enough to host members of the Royal Family on visits to the County, several times throughout each year.
These can happen because of a bid that we have put forward to celebrate a significant event or anniversary happening in the County or to highlight some unusual or interesting stories by groups or businesses. We are also asked by the Household to host visits to their patronages throughout the county.
Diary meetings are held quarterly by the households to discuss bids received and to allocate visits. Priority has to be given to all duties on behalf of His Majesty The King and other significant events, before they are able to allocate dates for visiting Counties. It is advisable therefore if requesting a visit, to be flexible with dates and of course to understand that they receive far more bids than they could ever fit into their diaries.
Any bid has to be for something special or unique. Events such as the celebration of 50 or 100 years are often favourably considered as are the openings of large new establishments with significance to the region. They also, however, like to see charities and community groups with as many people as possible and to hear the stories of how lives are affected or changed for the better by the group they are visiting.
If we are lucky enough to be able to secure a visit to Devon it is a real honour and everyone involved is able to see the huge benefit that it brings.
How do we apply
for a Royal Visit
It is best to contact the Lieutenancy Office first to discuss your bid as we can often give advice on what you are proposing in terms of timings, content and shaping the visit. If you can complete the attached form this will help us to understand what you are proposing. There are occasions when the invitation to visit can go directly to the household for example if they are a patron or president of your organisation. We would however appreciate you letting us know that an invitation has been extended.
What happens next?
When we have discussed your bid and you have completed the application form for us, we will discuss the bid with the relevant household. Diary meetings are usually held quarterly, and we can send bids from our County to the households ready for those meetings. We cannot send in bids years in advance as they will not be considered until the relevant diary meeting. Any bids we receive will be kept on file and will be submitted at the relevant time.
How will we hear
if we are successful?
There are two ways you might find out if you are successful in securing a Royal visit to your establishment. Either you will receive a letter directly from the household, or they will write to us and we will contact you. We will organise to come and see you and will assist you to put together a programme for the visit and advise you all about security and other factors that need to be taken into consideration. We will guide you through the process and the Lord-Lieutenant will accompany the Royal Visitor when they come to see you.
Photos From
Recent Royal Visits
The Duke of Gloucester Opens The University of Plymouth’s New Babbage Building
PHOTO: THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH On Tuesday, 19th March, The Duke of Gloucester attended the opening ceremony for The University of Plymouth's new Babbage Building. Situated on the western edge of the University's city-centre campus, the facility brings STEAM...
The Duke of Gloucester Visits Real Ideas in Devon
PHOTO: @themarkethalluk On Tuesday, 19th March, The Duke of Gloucester stepped into Market Hall located in Devonport, Plymouth, where he was shown the incredible transformation of this Victorian building from, as the name suggests, a marketplace, to a venue of...
Prince William Visits Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth
PHOTO: CHRIS JACKSON - WPA POOL/GETTY On Thursday, 14th December, The Prince of Wales visited the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon, to attend The Lord High Admiral's Divisions. There, he took the royal salute during the Passing Out Parade,...
The Duchess of Edinburgh Visits Coldharbour Mill in Devon
On Wednesday, 20th September, the Duchess of Edinburgh visited Coldharbour Mill, a charity based in Uffculme, Devon, where she was given a tour of one of the oldest woollen textile mills in the world, having been in continuous production since 1797. ...
The Duchess of Edinburgh Visits Charity in Devon
On Tuesday, 19th September, the Duchess of Edinburgh visited the Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT), a charity based in Tiverton, Devon, where she met local volunteers who run and operate the charity. Founded in 1995, they provide help to those who find...
HRH The Duchess of Cambridge in Plymouth for SailGP
On Sunday 31 July 2022, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon greeted Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, as she arrived at the Trinity Pier in Plymouth for the Sail GB event. He went on to introduce her to Sir Ben Ainslie, who is the Founding Patron of the...
HRH The Princess Royal visits NCI Torbay
The National Coastwatch Institution station at Torbay welcomed their Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal who visited the station on the 10th February. On arrival at Daddyhole Plain in Torquay, Her Royal Highness was received by the Deputy Lieutenant of Devon, Rear...
HRH The Princess Royal attended the passing out parade at BRNC Dartmouth on 17th Dec 2020
Deputy Lieutenant of Devon Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Britannia Royal Naval College to take the salute at a passing-out parade in Dartmouth, The Princess Royal was invited to inspect the passing out classes during her...
HRH Prince Charles visits Middlemoor Fire Service HQ 22nd July 2020
HRH Prince Charles was welcomed today by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon at Middlemoor Fire Service HQ to meet with the Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell. Lee introduced His Royal Highness to various staff of the Fire and Rescue Service Group, South West...
HRH The Duke of Kent celebrates 150 years of Salcombe RNLI
On the 21st September, the actual 150th birthday of the RNLI in Salcombe, Salcombe and Kingsbridge were honoured with a visit from His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent during the 50th year of his presidency of the RNLI. His Royal Highness accompanied by The Rt Hon The...
HRH The Duke of Cambridge visits Harcombe House to celebrate National 999 Day – 9th Sept 2019
The visit to Harcombe House started with a briefing on The Fire Fighters Charity, founded in 1943, is the primary Charity providing support to the fire and rescue service community in times of need providing ‘whole person’ health and wellbeing services...
HRH Princess Royal unveils Merchant Navy Monument on 3rd Sept at Plymouth Hoe
HRH The Princess Royal was in Plymouth for the third time this year to unveil a monument dedicated to the Merchant Navy and UK fishing fleet. Firstly, she unveiled the new monument at a ceremony on The Hoe and subsequently attended a reception at the Crowne Plaza. The...
Their HRH’s Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visit Devon 16th & 17th July 2019
Their Royal Highnesses arrive in Tavistock and are escorted into the Artisan Food and Drink Market where they visit various stalls together Her Royal Highness arrives at the Donkey Sanctuary by car and attends an engagement to celebrate the charity’s 50th...
The HRH Duke of Sussex giving out green berets to new Royal Marines at Bickleigh
The HRH Duke of Sussex giving out green berets to new Royal Marines at Bickleigh on 20th February 2019. https://twitter.com/LLofDevon/status/1098327040242171905 https://twitter.com/majgenstickland/status/1098302046799912961
HRH Duke of York attends Pitch @ Palace on Tour in Devon
HRH Duke of York attends Pitch @ Palace on Tour in Devon on 18th February 2019. https://twitter.com/philipbostock/status/1097805135424696320