For over 20 years, His Majesty The King has been committed to supporting our vision that fewer people die by suicide, and has met many Samaritans volunteers and supporters.
As part of our 60th birthday celebrations in 2013, the then Prince of Wales hosted a reception at Clarence House in celebration of our work and also visited our Central office in London to meet some of our volunteers. He heard first hand how they create awareness, do outreach work in the community and recruit other volunteers.
As part of his 70th birthday celebrations, the then Prince of Wales hosted a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the work of his the charities he supports. A number of Samaritans volunteers joined the celebrations.
For Volunteers Week 2020 he posted this thank you message to our volunteers.
I’m deeply appreciative and full of admiration for everything all these remarkable volunteers do. The fact that you give up so much of your time and provide your love and compassion for other people in this way.
His Majesty The King
In January 2021 Samaritans' book How to Listen: Tools for opening up conversations when it matters most, was published, featuring a foreword from the then Prince of Wales. He also once again supported our Brew Monday campaign, encouraging people to stay connected with a virtual cup of tea.
October 2021 saw the 50th Anniversary of our Gloucester & District Branch. The then Prince of Wales visited the branch to meet volunteers and thank them, paying tribute to their vital work as he unveiled a new plaque to celebrate this milestone:
“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be involved in such a remarkable organisation. It’s amazing that this branch has been going for 50 years. You are such an amazing credit to this country in terms of what you do, all the time, for so long – I know one (volunteer) has been here for 50 years, others 40, 30 and so on. So you are, if I may say so, the absolute backbone of what is required and are here for people who otherwise wouldn’t get the help they need.
I hope this anniversary will remind you just how important you all are.”
