The Queen Visits Truro to Celebrate 25 Years of ShelterBox

Her Majesty The Queen has joined volunteers, staff, and supporters of ShelterBox at the charity’s Truro headquarters today, Tuesday 2nd September, marking 25 years of providing emergency shelter to people displaced by disaster, conflict, and climate crises.

A Royal Patronage

As Patron of the international disaster relief charity, Her Majesty met the people behind ShelterBox’s global mission and saw first-hand how its work has evolved since being founded in 2000.

Chief Executive Sanj Srikanthan said:
“It is a huge honour to welcome Her Majesty back to Cornwall to help us mark such a significant milestone in our charity’s history. We’re deeply humbled by the strength and resilience of the communities we support, and incredibly grateful to the volunteers, staff, Rotary members, and donors who make our work possible every day. This moment belongs to all of them.”

Her Majesty’s connection with ShelterBox began in 2006 when, as the Duchess of Cornwall, she and the then Prince of Wales learned of its response to a major earthquake during an official visit to Pakistan. She has continued to champion the charity, hosting events at Clarence House and Buckingham Palace, and previously visiting ShelterBox in 2017 to mark her 70th birthday.

From Boxes to Global Aid

ShelterBox started with a simple idea: sending essential shelter items in a box to families in crisis. Today, the charity stores aid around the world and tailors its response to each community, adapting to disasters, climates, and cultures.

“People are sometimes still surprised we don’t send boxes anymore,” said Mr Srikanthan. “But that flexibility means we can respond more effectively and support more people – whether it’s shelter repair kits in the Philippines, mud brick homes in Somalia or flood-resistant shelters in Bangladesh. We continue to adapt to meet the rising challenges facing the people we support.”

During the visit, Her Majesty tried out some of the tools used by communities, including shelter repair kits designed to help families make their homes watertight. She also met Claire Leeson, who had just returned from Cameroon, named this year as the most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world.

“Every community we support shapes how we work. We listen. And 25 years of disaster response has taught us a lot,” added Mr Srikanthan.

“As well as emergency shelter like tents and shelter repair kits, we also support people who have been displaced for longer in places like Cameroon, Somalia, and Yemen. Families who have been displaced for years will often need different support. That’s why we’re always evolving, so families can rebuild with dignity and hope whatever their situation – whether it’s securing land rights in Somalia or supporting people to build stronger homes.”

Spotlight on Reading

Her Majesty was particularly pleased to hear about ShelterBox Book Club, which is supported through The Queen’s Reading Room.

The club has sent 125,000 books to readers keen to connect with global stories from countries where ShelterBox operates. It is the UK’s largest charity book subscription and has raised £1.5 million since launching seven years ago. The funds have helped deliver tents, water filters, solar lights, and mosquito nets to families in crisis.

3 Million People Supported

ShelterBox was founded by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard and has since supported more than three million people across nearly 100 countries, helping on average over 300 people every day.

To mark today’s occasion, Her Majesty unveiled a commemorative plaque at the Truro headquarters.

“In an ideal world, ShelterBox wouldn’t need to exist,” said Mr Srikanthan. “But with over 123 million people displaced worldwide – three times more than when we were founded – our mission is more urgent than ever. And we’ll keep going for as long as we’re needed.”

Find out more about ShelterBox’s work worldwide at shelterbox.org