Founder's Day - Honouring Service & Legacy

Honouring Service, Legacy, and the Spirit of the Chelsea Pensioners

Despite heavy rain throughout the morning, spirits remained high as the Royal Hospital Chelsea proudly celebrated its annual Founder’s Day - the most significant ceremonial occasion in our calendar.

This year, we were honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh as Reviewing Officer, returning to the Royal Hospital for the first time since 2017. The event drew together Chelsea Pensioners, staff, families, invited guests, and international allies for a ceremony steeped in symbolism and pride.

A Ceremony Rooted in Royal History

Founder’s Day commemorates the vision of King Charles II, who established the Royal Hospital in 1682 as a refuge for soldiers “broken by age or war.” The parade takes place as close as possible to 29th May, the King's birthday and the date he famously evaded capture after the Battle of Worcester by hiding in an oak tree.

In tribute to that moment, all Pensioners on parade wear oak leaves, and the statue of King Charles II in Figure Court is specially decorated each year. Whether lavishly dressed or subtly adorned, this longstanding tradition pays homage to the Royal Hospital’s founding story and its enduring connection to the Crown. This year, the statue was surrounded by young potted oak tress around its base.

A printed programme, shared with guests in attendance, offered reflections on the heritage of the day and the significance of the oak leaf, alongside a short history of King Charles II’s founding vision. The tradition of the “Three Cheers” for King Charles II, His Majesty The King, and the Reviewing Officer continues to link centuries of ceremonial form with the present-day service of our veterans.

A Parade of Purpose and Presence

This year’s parade took place in unrelenting rain - the wettest Founder’s Day in recent memory - but the weather did little to dampen the occasion. Chelsea Pensioners stood proud in their scarlet coats as they were inspected by The Duke of Edinburgh.

His Royal Highness congratulated the Chelsea Pensioners on an outstanding parade, despite the weather conditions, and went on to thank staff of the Royal Hospital Chelsea before passing on best wishes from King Charles III:

His Majesty has asked me to convey his best wishes to you all on this day, and thank you for your service to the country.

He continued by paying tribute to those Second World War Veterans on Parade and marked the important anniversaries of several major events in 2025:

We recently recalled the events of 80 years ago on VE Day and we will remember the 80th anniversary of VJ Day in August. Before the parade, I was delighted to be able to meet 3 Chelsea Pensioners who served in those days.

The Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE DL, responded by thanking His Royal Highness for reviewing the Chelsea Pensioners on parade, echoing his sentiments :

Your Royal Highness, thank you for returning to support us on this important day, marking the founding of the Royal Hospital by King Charles II in 1682... may I join you in congratulating our In-Pensioners for their outstanding turnout and drill today.

The Governor also thanked the staff of London District, the Band of the Irish Guards, the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Scots Guards, the Ushers from London District, and the Light Cavalry of the Honourable Artillery Company for their contribution to the day, especially during such a busy ceremonial season.

A Living Commitment

Founder’s Day 2025 also offered an opportunity to reflect on ongoing work at the Royal Hospital. From our veterans’ outreach initiatives to the recent success of the Chelsea Pensioners’ Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this year’s celebration demonstrated that while the traditions of the Royal Hospital are proudly upheld, our mission continues to evolve.

We extend our sincere thanks to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh for honouring the Chelsea Pensioners and the Royal Hospital with his presence, and to all those who took part in this memorable day.