Pembrokeshire RNLI lifeguard at Buckingham Palace
Pembrokeshire RNLI lifeguard and Supervisor Matty Mcleod attended Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II centenary alongside three other RNLI representatives.
On Tuesday 21 April, four RNLI representatives visited Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II centenary. The special event commemorated the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, who was the longest serving RNLI Patron, a role Her Late Majesty held for 70 years.
RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes said: ‘It was a great honour for the RNLI to be represented at Buckingham Palace as part of this national occasion. Queen Elizabeth II’s unwavering support to the RNLI meant a great deal to our volunteers and staff, and the reception provided a fitting opportunity to reflect on The Late Queen’s extraordinary dedication to saving lives at sea.’
The four RNLI representatives, one from each UK nation, were nominated by the charity in recognition of their dedication and service to the lifesaving charity.
Attending was Matty McLeod, Lifeguard Supervisor in North Pembrokeshire, Wales who has been part of the RNLI for 12 years. This year marks 25 years of RNLI lifeguarding, a milestone for the charity across the UK and Channel Islands.
Growing up on the coast and becoming a keen surfer, Matty has always had a strong interest in water safety and helping people around the coastline.
Matty said: ‘I feel very grateful to have attended such a prestigious occasion and represent Wales and West RNLI lifeguards in their 25th anniversary year.’
The reception formed part of a wider programme of events held across the UK to mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, celebrating Her Late Majesty’s life, service and lasting impact on organisations and communities nationwide.
Queen Elizabeth II was a much loved member of the RNLI family for seven decades, during which time the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards saved 65,979 lives.
The Late Queen’s extraordinary commitment to the lifesaving charity saw Queen Elizabeth II attend many RNLI occasions and recognise the efforts of thousands of RNLI volunteers during visits to lifeboat stations, through the national Honours awards, and the four Jubilee medals issued to RNLI crew in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022 to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Queen Elizabeth II’s connection with the RNLI included a number of significant milestones, including the opening of the RNLI College in Poole on 24 July 2004, accompanied by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and RNLI President, HRH The Duke of Kent.
Queen Elizabeth II’s final official engagement on behalf of the RNLI was on 17 May 2013, when The Late Queen unveiled a plaque at St Ives Lifeboat Station in Cornwall and met the volunteer lifeboat crew and fundraisers.
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Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.