Overview
- The Duchess of Edinburgh was confirmed as AFPST’s Royal Patron and made her first official visit to The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead on Monday, August 10, where she watched training, skied on the indoor slopes and tried laser target practice.
- AFPST runs adaptive alpine, snowboard and Nordic programmes that help wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans rebuild confidence, find community and move into coaching or competition.
- AFPST’s chief operating officer, Elizabeth Winfield, said the patronage will strengthen the charity’s ability to grow, reach more veterans and deliver life‑changing programmes.
- The charity highlighted Project Vidda as a flagship, planned expedition that will see a team of amputee veterans attempt an unsupported crossing of Norway’s Vidda plateau, and reporters also noted AFPST’s recent instructor training work in Ukraine.
- Some outlets have compared the patronage to Prince Harry’s Invictus work but that link is journalistic commentary rather than a formal organisational alignment, and the immediate effect is likely greater public visibility and fundraising for AFPST’s rehabilitation activities.