King Charles Retains Patronage of British Film Institute
variety.comAlex Ritman King Charles has retained his patronage of the British Film Institute, the U.K. body for which he’s served as patron for more than 45 years.
The BFI revealed the news on Tuesday, which also marked the 25th anniversary of the opening of London’s BFI Imax, where King Charles — then Prince Charles — cut the ribbon on June 11, 1999. “We are honored to have the Royal Patronage of HM King Charles III and grateful for the support he has already given us as Patron as The Prince of Wales for 45 years, showing his commitment and passion for film along the way,” said BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts. “We take our responsibility for caring for the Royal Collection in the BFI National Archive very seriously and are dedicated to ensuring it is preserved for generations to come.” A registered charity founded in 1933, the BFI has been governed by Royal Charter since 1983.
In 2018, Charles visited the BFI Southbank to celebrate 40 years as the BFI’s Patron, where he met employees including Roberts, BFI Film Academy alumni and British film talent including actors Ruth Wilson, Hayley Atwell, David Oyelowo and Tom Hiddleston.
Prince William, meanwhile, is president of BAFTA and has attended the BAFTA Film Awards on several occasions. Among its numerous responsibilities, the BFI preserves the Royal Collection of Film.
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