Page 7 - Annual Report 2020

As we we we we we welcomed in in in the the the year 2020 we we we we we could not have anticipated that within a a a a a a a a a a a a a matter of of of weeks we we we we we would be in in in in the the the grip of of of of an an an unparalleled global crisis The closure of of of of the the the Palaces and Galleries on on 20 March for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a period of of of four months was unprecedented in in in in in in my lifetime Since then we have all all had to to adapt to to living in in in in extraordinary times I have have been Chairman of The Royal Collection Trust since its establishment in in in in 1993 We are now facing by far the the the greatest challenge in in in in in the the the charity’s history and have have had to to to to take many hard decisions in in in order to to to adjust to to to the the the new economic realities I I am acutely aware of how difficult the the past eight months have been for our staff It is thanks to to to their hard work commitment and and and understanding that The Royal Collection Trust has been able to to to respond swiftly and and and appropriately to to to these rapidly changing circumstances So many things that we we we we might have taken for granted we we we we now cherish more than ever As the the the dark cloud of of of the the the coronavirus began to to lift and and we we we we we welcomed back visitors on on on 23 July we we we shared a a a a a a a a a a a a a a heightened appreciation of of of the the the simple and and and joyful experience of of of looking at at art and exploring magnificent buildings There are undoubtedly more challenging times ahead I am confident however that The The The Royal Collection Trust will emerge strong and and fit for purpose and and with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a renewed focus on on on our charitable aims in support of Her Majesty The The Queen