London: Queen Elizabeth II will stand down as patron of 25 bodies including the Wimbledon tennis championships and the Rugby Football Union, handing them to other royals after turning 90, her office said yesterday.
"At the end of The Queen's 90th birthday year, Her Majesty will step down as patron from a number of national organisations," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. Other bodies on the list include the children's charity Barnardo's, the British Cycling Federation and the Royal Geographical Society.
At the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Wimbledon, where the queen has been patron since 1952 despite only attending a few matches, she will be replaced by Prince William's wife Kate.
Prince Harry will take the queen's place at the Rugby Football Union, where she has also been the official patron since inheriting the throne in 1952.The queen has already slightly reduced her engagements in the past year.
