the Historic art of giving

The historic art of giving

 Queen Elizabeth II turned service into a symbol of hope and humanity

 Elizabeth II: A Reign of Compassion and Care

The first royal patronage on record dates back to the 18^th century, when George II became patron of the Society of Antiquaries. And it’s a tradition that continues to this day. The Royal Family is the biggest brand in the UK bringing with it a mark of quality, tradition and influence, so a royal patron is a huge plus to any charity. The Queen had over 600 patronages, many of which were inherited from her father, George VI, on her accession to the throne. The positive press                                               coverage that having the Queen as patron generates can’t be underestimated. Before her coronation, Princess Elizabeth became the patron of the Junior Red Cross. The British Red Cross had a long and proud history of working with Her Majesty the Queen. As a patron, she supported it for over 60 years and made a great contribution to its work in the UK and abroad.

The Queen set an amazing example when it came to her charitable support , making an enormous difference to millions of people up and down the country; doing more for charity in the last 60 years than probably any other monarch in history.

1. Based on the text, decide if the following statements are true or false

1. The tradition of royal patronage began with Queen Elizabeth II.
2. The Queen’s involvement with the British Red Cross lasted for over 50 years.
3. The Queen inherited all her patronages from King  George VI
4.  Having the  Queen as a patron helped generate positive press coverage for charities.
5. The Queen only supported charities in the UK.
6. The British Red Cross had a short  history of working with the Queen as a patron.
7. The Queen personally established all 600 of her patronages during her reign.
8. The Queen’s contributions to charity in the last 60 years are described as unparalleled by any other monarch.

II. Match the words to their definitions:

1.patronage a) financial aid or help given to those in need;           

2.charity                                              b) a long-standing custom or practice passed            

3.tradition  down over the time;

4.coronation                                        c) an act of giving help or assistance to 

5.press coverage                                 someone or something;

6.support                                              d) a formal ceremony to crown a king or

                                                              queen;

                                                                e) the work done by journalists to report on

     events or activities;

    f) the act of being a sponsor or supporter of 

                                                                 an organization

III.Match the words from the text  to their synonyms:

1. contribution                          a) receive
2. influence                                   b) attempt
3. charitable                                  c) donation
4. inherit                                d) impact
5. effort                                e) generous

IV. Find the word that does not belong to the group:

1. contribution, donation, neglect, gift
2. tradition, heritage, custom, innovation
3. influence, impact, authority, opposition
4. charitable, generous, supportive, harmful
5. patron, benefactor, sponsor, protester

V. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb :

1. Before Princess  Elizabeth  _____(become) Queen, she _____(already/be) the patron of the Junior Red Cross.
2. Many organizations _____(gain) prestige after they ____( receive) the Queen as their patron.
3. George II ____(introduce) the tradition of royal patronage long before Queen Elizabeth II _____ (ascend) the throne.
4. By the time  she _____(inherit) her father’s patronages, the Queen _____( demonstrate) her commitment to charity.

VI. Write a comparative essay discussing how the role of monarchy in society has changed from historical times to the present. Focus on:

• The monarchy’s involvement in politics, culture and charity
• The influence of royal patronage on global issues today
• How different cultures and countries view the role of monarchy in modern times?