Issue 36 2023 - Journal - Page 87
RAF Museum unveils royal
charter as part of 50th
birthday celebrations
The RAF Museum is delighted to announce that we have been granted the Royal Charter in our
50th birthday year.
What is a Royal Charter?
A Royal Charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch
which confers an independent legal personality on an
organisation and defines its objectives, constitution and
powers to govern its own affairs. Incorporation by Charter
is a prestigious way of acquiring legal personality and
reflects the high status of that body.
In December 2022 the Representative Deputy Lieutenant
for the London Borough of Barnet, Martin Russell and
the RAF Museum Chair, AVM Sir Stephen Hillier,
formally unveiled our Royal Charter, which is now on
public display in our newly refurbished entrance to our
Hangar 3 entrance at London.
The Royal Charter was granted by Her Late Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II, who also officially opened the
Museum in 1972.
Only pre-eminent leaders in their field are granted this
honour and Charter status provides an appropriate
governance structure for the future and is an affirmation
of the national importance of the Museum.
“It is a great honour to have been granted a Royal Charter by
Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. All the Museum team
– Trustees, staff and volunteers - are incredibly grateful for this
recognition. We are inspired even further to fulfil our dual role
as a National Museum and community resource and partner,
collecting and sharing globally significant stories for and with
everyone.” Maggie Appleton, Chief Executive Officer,
RAF Museum
According to the Privy Council there are now over one
thousand Royal chartered bodies. The first ever organisation to receive a Royal Charter was the Weavers Company in 1155. This year, the RAF Museum became the
1,038th company to receive their charter. Other famous
fellow chartered bodies include the BBC, the British Red
Cross and the Honourable Company of Air Pilots.
Below, Left to right Former Trustee Richard Holman; RAF Museum Chair ACM Sir Stephen Hillier;
The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet Cllr Alison Moore; Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough
Conservation & Heritage Journal
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