Give a gift in memory
Give a Gift in Memory
Giving in memory is a meaningful way to remember someone special and celebrate their life.
A gift in your loved one’s name helps care for the Chelsea Pensioners and veterans who have served our country, providing them with lifelong support in the unique community of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
There are countless personal ways to give in memory. We’re here to support you in creating a tribute that truly honours your loved one and reflects what made them special.
Ways to give in memory
Plant a living tribute
Request seeds to be planted in the Royal Hospital gardens in memory of your loved one.
When they bloom in spring, you can visit our site and see them first hand or receive a photograph as a keepsake.
Celebrate a life with a living tribute at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
When you choose to plant a gift in tribute, we will plant Glory of the Snow bulbs in our historic gardens in memory of your loved one. These early spring flowers bloom year after year, creating a beautiful, lasting reminder of the person you are remembering.
How it works
- Make a donation: Choose to plant a gift in tribute and support the Chelsea Pensioners at the same time.
- We plant the bulbs: Our gardening team will carefully plant the bulbs in a dedicated remembrance area of the Royal Hospital gardens.
- Visit the gardens: When the flowers bloom each spring, you are welcome to visit and see your tribute in full bloom surrounding a tribute card bearing your loved one’s name.
- Receive a keepsake: We will send you a photograph of the flowers in bloom and the tribute card, so you have a lasting memento of your tribute.
Plant your tribute today
To arrange your tribute please complete the Tribute Request Form below or contact our Legacy & In memory team for more information:
Phone: 0207 881 5244
Email: legacies@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk
Once the Tribute Request Form has been completed our Legacies and In-Memory team will contact you to confirm your tribute planting and donation.
Hold a funeral collection
Invite family and friends to donate in lieu of flowers at a funeral or celebration of life.
Funeral Collections
If you are arranging a service for a loved one, please accept our sincere condolences. We hope you are receiving the support and comfort you need at this difficult time.
We know planning a funeral or memorial can feel overwhelming. At the Royal Hospital Chelsea, we aim to make celebrating and commemorating your loved one as meaningful and straightforward as possible.
By honouring your loved one in this way you’ll help our Chelsea Pensioners and veterans continue to live enriched and fulfilled lives and support their families by providing assurance their loved ones are well cared for.
Other ideas
Donations in lieu of flowers
Many families choose to ask friends and family to donate in memory of their loved one, rather than sending flowers. A collection allows everyone to contribute to something meaningful, supporting the care, companionship, and wellbeing of the Chelsea Pensioners.
Collection envelopes
We can provide funeral collection envelopes for your service, making it easier for friends and family to donate to a fund.
These can be used to collect at a funeral, or around a funeral date for non-attendees.
Most funeral directors are happy to collect the envelopes and send them back to the Royal Hospital Chelsea office. Please speak to your Funeral Director about this to avoid sending cash through the post.
To request envelopes or to speak with someone about online tribute pages, please click the button below and we will be in touch.
Offline Donations
If you would like to post your collection donations, please provide the following information so we can acknowledge your generosity appropriately:
- The name of the person in whose memory the collection is being made
- Your contact details, and where you would like us to send an acknowledgement
If you are sending individual donations, we are happy to process them on your behalf. To keep your donations safe, please do not send cash through the post.
Please send cheques to:
The Legacy and In Memory Team
Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4SR
If you wish, you can also let us know how you would like your collection donations to be used, please speak with our Legacy & In-Memory team before organising your collection if you would like to specify a particular area of support.
Create an online tribute page
Set up an online tribute page that you can personalise in honour of a loved one and share memories, photos and messages.
Friends and family can donate and celebrate a life together, wherever they are.
Create an Online Tribute Page
Remember someone special with a lasting online tribute.
An online tribute page is a simple and meaningful way to celebrate a life, share memories, and bring together family and friends, wherever they are. It offers a place to remember and honour someone who meant so much, while supporting the Chelsea Pensioners.
Through tribute site, Much Loved, you can create a tribute page becomes a lasting place of remembrance.
How to create your tribute page
Setting up a MuchLoved.com tribute page is simple and can be done in a few steps:
- Create an account
Visit MuchLoved.com and register with your email address.
- Set up your tribute
Add your loved one’s name, along with photos, stories or a short message.
- Choose The Chelsea Pensioners
Select The Chelsea Pensioners as your chosen charity to support the Chelsea Pensioners.
- Personalise the page
You can add music, light candles, share memories and create a space that reflects your loved one’s life.
- Share with others
Send the page to family and friends so they can contribute messages, memories, and donations.
Get started
Creating a tribute page takes just a few minutes.
If you would like support setting up your page or have any questions, our Legacy & In-Memory team is here to help:
Phone: 0207 881 5244
Email: legacies@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk
A lasting tribute
For Dawn and her late husband Chris, the Royal Hospital Chelsea had long been part of their family story.
Chris’s grandfather, known as “Grampy”, served in both World Wars before becoming a Chelsea Pensioner. After a lifetime of service, the Royal Hospital gave him a home filled with companionship, dignity and care.
“When we left after visiting, we always knew he was happy and well looked after,” Dawn recalls.
When Chris died, Dawn chose to honour his life by creating a tribute page in his memory. Friends and family shared stories, messages and donations, celebrating his life while supporting future Pensioners.
“The Royal Hospital did so much for Grampy. If our gift helps keep it here for others, that feels like a legacy worth leaving.”
Dawn, in memory supporter
Speak to our team
We understand this may be a difficult time, and we’re here to help you every step of the way with care and sensitivity.
If you would like support setting up a tribute, organising a collection, or learning more about giving in memory, please get in touch:
Phone: 0207 881 5244
Email: legacies@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk