Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal has been announced as the new Patron of veterans' charity Royal Star & Garter.

The Princess Royal is the charity's third Patron since it was founded in 1916, succeeding her late mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, from Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe.

It has also launched new services reaching out into the community.

The charity was established on 14 January 1916 to care for severely injured men returning from the battlegrounds of WWI, following concern expressed by Queen Mary, who charged the British Red Cross Society with finding them a 'permanent haven' and became the charity's first Patron.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was Royal Star & Garter's Patron from 1953 until her death in 2022.

The Princess Royal is involved with over 400 charities, organisations and military affiliations in the UK and overseas, and is renowned for her warm relationship, affinity and support for Armed Forces veterans.

Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal has been announced as the new Patron of veterans' charity Royal Star & Garter (Credit: Jeremy Makinson)

Major General Tim Tyler CB, Chair at Royal Star & Garter, said: "We are honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as our new Patron.

"The Princess is admired for her dedication to good causes and her devotion to public work, as well as her long association with the Armed Forces.

"We look forward to welcoming Her Royal Highness to our Homes to meet the veterans and partners we care for."

He continued: "Our former Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, demonstrated genuine enthusiasm for our work.

"We are delighted that The Princess is continuing her mother's support for the military family.

"The Princess is already well acquainted with our charity, both through Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Patronage and the support of her great-grandmother Queen Mary, who was our first Patron in 1916.

"On behalf of the residents, relatives, volunteers and members of staff, we welcome our new Patron and look forward to sharing our ambitions to support more veterans and their families than ever before."

HRH Princess Alexandra will remain as the charity's President, a role she has served in for 60 years, since 1964.