Prince of Wales Fund launched!
Thu, 25/02/2016 - 15:08
FNL's Prince of Wales Fund was launched at a high profile reception at Lambeth Palace on 24th February, attended by FNL's Patron HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
The Prince of Wales is well known for his love of reading and places great importance in the preservation of our written and printed heritage for the benefit of the public and future generations.
The target for the Prince of Wales fund is £1m, and by early April 2016 over £750,000 had already been raised.
At the launch, attended by philanthropists, writers, librarians, historians and celebrities, the Prince of Wales spoke of the importance of FNL’s work. FNL was established in 1931 and has helped hundreds of the nation’s archives and libraries, great and small, to acquire many thousands of archives, rare books and collections some of the UK’s most significant literary, historic and scientific collections, which would otherwise have been lost.
The new Fund will help to transform FNL’s ability to support libraries and archives across the UK to acquire books and collections that, together, are our written and printed heritage. In an article for the Mail on Sunday on 21st February, 2016, The Prince of Wales said:
“Neither Longfellow nor Shakespeare wrote for a select audience. Their work was for everyone, which is why I agreed to be Patron of this important appeal for funds by the Friends of the National Libraries.
Our libraries play a crucial role in preserving the letters of writers. Collections include poems, scientific discoveries as they were scribbled down in notebooks, precious bindings and even battle plans. They keep our heritage alive by offering insight into the thinking of great writers whose work our libraries make available to everyone, now and in the future. So often presented in the guise of entertainment, their words offer us the insight and sensitivity to navigate the many challenges that life can throw at us. To let such access wither would indeed make the world an impoverished place.”
Lord Egremont, Chairman of FNL, said: “We are immeasurably grateful to HRH The Prince of Wales for allowing FNL to raise a fund in his name. We will raise £1m to create The Prince of Wales Fund, which will help us to increase our grant-giving dramatically, and in perpetuity.
FNL is at a pivotal point, as are the organisations that we support. Cuts to the budgets of collecting institutions are jeopardizing their ability to keep important collections in libraries available to the public. If FNL fails to increase, very substantially, the funds that it has to support acquisitions our nation’s story will increasingly be lost. The Prince of Wales Fund will help to ensure we can continue to do so.”
Please support the Prince of Wales Fund!
We need your support if we are to reach our £1m target.
If you would like to make a donation please use the donation and Gift Aid forms below and send them to FNL at: FNL, c/o British LIbrary, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB.
If you would like to become a member of FNL to support our work and enjoy the benefits of membership please complete the second page of the donation form above.
The Prince of Wales launches the Fund. © Ian McIlgorm.
Prince of Wales studying books acquired by Lambeth Palace Library thanks to FNL support. © Craig Hibbert
The Prince of Wales talking to Jung Chang, author of 'Wild Swans'. © Ian McIlgorm. 
The Duchess of Cornwall views items bought with FNL help. © Craig Hibbert.
The reception was held in the Great Hall, thanks to the generosity of Lambeth Palace Library. © Craig Hibbert.
