Our Patron

Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales is Patron of the Museum.

The Princess has been Patron of the Museum since April 2013. This is a reflection of her interest in and commitment to the Museum's role in helping people to reconnect with the natural world and answer the big questions about how we can protect our planet's future.

In the Museum's Annual Review 2016/17 The Princess said, 'The challenges the natural world faces today are very different to those of 136 years ago, when the Museum first opened its doors. But so the opportunities of a global and digital age.

'The groundbreaking, diverse work over the past year is only the start of an ambitious transformation to inspire new audiences and tackle some of the most important issues affecting the planet.'

Since becoming Patron, The Princess has visited the Museum numerous times to enjoy the galleries and find out more about its scientific work.

Her visits have included:

• visiting the Museum in October 2019 to hear about the work underway to champion UK biodiversity
• attending a children's tea party celebrating the Diplodocus Dippy's time in Hintze Hall, ahead of his departure for a tour of the UK
• attending the premiere of David Attenborough's Natural History Museum Alive 3D with HRH The Prince of Wales in December 2013
• attending the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards in October 2014
• a private visit to the Sensational Butterflies exhibition with TRH The Prince of Wales and Prince George to celebrate the Prince's first birthday in July 2014
• opening the Treasures exhibition in the Cadogan Gallery in November 2012, before she became Patron

She also accompanied HRH The Prince of Wales to Borneo in September 2012, where they met Museum scientists researching rainforest biodiversity.