Her Majesty The Queen - Statement from the Governor of The Royal Hospital Chelsea
8th September 2022
Everyone at the Royal Hospital is deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
The Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, General Sir Adrian Bradshaw KCB OBE DL, has released the below statement:
On behalf of the Chelsea Pensioners, Commissioners, and all staff at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, I would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Royal Family at this deeply distressing time. The whole military community will be in mourning today, for the passing of Her Majesty The Queen. The Pensioners held their Queen in the very highest regard and were all immensely proud to serve and protect their country under her 70-year long reign.
The Queen first visited the Royal Hospital Chelsea as HRH The Princess Elizabeth in 1947 as the Reviewing Officer at Founder’s Day. Her first investiture as Monarch was with Korean War hero Bill Speakman VC, who later became a Chelsea Pensioner, and they remained acquaintances throughout his life, until he passed away in 2018.
As Queen she was a regular and much-loved visitor to the Royal Hospital, first attending an Army dinner in 1956 then to review the Chelsea Pensioners at Founder’s Day in 1962, 1975, 1982 and 2006.. Her last visit was in 2014 attending the London Regiment WWI Commemoration.
The Queen had a great interest in horticulture and enjoyed visiting the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, held at the Hospital annually, with her wider family. Her Majesty The Queen will be profoundly and very sadly missed by our community here at the Royal Hospital.
