Royal Hospital Chelsea facts for kids
The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a special home for about 300 retired soldiers from the British Army. It's like a retirement and nursing home for veterans. It was first built as an "almshouse," which in old times meant a place that cared for people in need. The hospital is located on a large 66-acre site in Chelsea, London. It's a charity that gets money from donations to help care for the veterans living there.
The soldiers who live here are known as Chelsea Pensioners. The beautiful gardens around the Royal Hospital are very old and important, listed as Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
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History of the Royal Hospital Chelsea
King Charles II started the Royal Hospital in 1682. He wanted a place for soldiers who were old or injured after serving their country. People say that Nell Gwyn, a famous person from that time, gave him the idea. The king was inspired by a similar home for soldiers in Paris called Les Invalides. The land chosen for the hospital already had an unfinished building from an old college.
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A very important person behind the hospital's creation was Sir Stephen Fox. He was in charge of paying the army and was a trusted helper to the King. In 1681, Fox and the King planned to build a permanent hospital for disabled soldiers. Sir Stephen Fox himself gave a huge amount of money, £13,000, to help build the new hospital.
The Royal Hospital opened its doors to the first Chelsea Pensioners in 1692. Some of the first soldiers to live there were those injured in the Battle of Sedgemoor. The famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren, designed the main buildings. Even though there were some problems with managing the money, the building was finished in 1692.
Later, in the early 1800s, Sir John Soane designed a new infirmary (a place for sick people). This building was destroyed during World War II bombing. A new, modern infirmary was built and opened in 1961 by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. This was later replaced by an even more modern building.
The newest infirmary, called the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary, was finished in 2008. It offers very modern care for the pensioners.
In 2002, the hospital received a special ceremonial staff called a mace. This mace is now carried at all important events at the hospital. It was designed with acorns and has the St Edward's Crown on top.
In 2009, for the first time in 317 years, women were allowed to become Chelsea Pensioners. Winifred Phillips and Dorothy Hughes were the first. Winifred Phillips had served in the Women's Royal Army Corps for 22 years. Dorothy Hughes joined the British Army in 1941 and helped defend against V1 flying bomb attacks.
Chelsea Pensioner Uniforms
Chelsea Pensioners can leave the Royal Hospital whenever they want and wear regular clothes. However, when they are at the hospital or nearby, they usually wear a blue uniform, which they call "blues." If they travel further away, they wear their famous bright red coats instead. The red coats are also worn for special events and ceremonies, along with a three-cornered hat called a tricorne.
When in uniform, the pensioners proudly display their medal ribbons and the badges that show their rank from when they were in the military. Many also wear special badges like parachute jump wings. There's a common story that it's illegal to pretend to be a Chelsea Pensioner, but that's not true anymore.
There's a legend that Nell Gwynne suggested the red coats. She might have remembered that pensioners at another hospital in Hereford wore red coats too.
Founder's Day Celebration
The Royal Hospital celebrates Founder's Day every year around May 29th. This date is special because it's the birthday of King Charles II and the day he became King again in 1660. It's also known as Oak Apple Day, remembering when the future King hid in an oak tree to escape capture. On Founder's Day, a member of the British royal family comes to review the Chelsea Pensioners.
King Charles II Statue
A large 7-foot-6-inch (229 cm) statue of King Charles II stands in the main courtyard, called the Figure Court. It was made from copper by Grinling Gibbons. It was originally covered in gold, but later changed to bronze. In 2002, it was covered in gold again to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.
The Hospital Chapel
The hospital's chapel was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It's a beautiful example of his church designs, rising 42 feet (13 meters) high. It was finished in 1687. Inside, there's a lovely painting of the Resurrection by Sebastiano Ricci. The Chapel was officially opened in 1691. Today, services are held on Sunday mornings and for special military events.
The Great Hall
The Great Hall was also designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It was first meant to be a dining hall with many long tables. It has a large painting from around 1690 that shows King Charles II on horseback.
Around 1800, the pensioners started eating in their living areas, and the hall was used for fun activities. It was here that the Duke of Wellington lay in state after he died in 1852. The table where his coffin rested is still near the entrance. The hall went back to being a dining hall in 1955.
State Apartments
The State Apartments have fancy ceilings and wood carvings. The room was finished between 1685 and 1688. These rooms, including the Council Chamber and Ante-Chamber, can be rented for private events and weddings.
Margaret Thatcher Infirmary
The Margaret Thatcher Infirmary is a modern care home for about 100 Chelsea Pensioners. It was opened in 2009 by Charles, Prince of Wales. It has excellent nursing care and a doctor's office. The Matron leads a team of nurses, therapists, and care staff. The infirmary also has a gym and a special pool for pensioners. They can join many activities, from pottery to poetry.
Hospital Ceremonies
The Royal Hospital has several special yearly traditions. The Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses is a tradition that started over 300 years ago in 1692. Back then, the hospital asked a local cheese seller to give cheese to the pensioners for Christmas. Today, cheesemakers from all over the country donate cheese. A Chelsea Pensioner cuts a large ceremonial cheese with a sword, and it's shared among everyone for Christmas.
Another yearly tradition is the Christmas Cake Ceremony, which began in 1949. This ceremony shows the strong friendship between the UK and Australia. A Christmas cake is given to the hospital from an Australian group. Again, a pensioner cuts the cake with a sword.
Visiting the Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Royal Hospital has a museum that tells the story of the hospital and its pensioners. You can see old items, documents, medals, and uniforms. There's also a large model showing what the hospital looked like in 1742. You can book walking tours of the site and museum, led by the Chelsea Pensioners themselves!
The large grounds of the Royal Hospital are also used for big public events. The most famous is the Chelsea Flower Show, held by the Royal Horticultural Society. This flower show has been held here since 1913 and attracts many visitors.
In September 2022, the hospital was a meeting point for world leaders and important guests before Queen Elizabeth's funeral. From there, they traveled to Westminster Abbey.
Singora Cannon
Near the flagpole in the main courtyard, there's an old cannon called the Singora cannon. It has a special inscription and the seal of Sultan Sulaiman Shah. This cannon was made around 1623. It was captured in wars many times by different countries before the British took it in 1885 and brought it to England.
How the Royal Hospital is Run
The Royal Hospital has a military-style culture that values friendship among the pensioners. The pensioners are divided into four groups, each led by a Captain of Invalids. These captains are former army officers who look after the pensioners' daily needs and manage their groups.
There is also a Secretary who manages the hospital's yearly budget, staff, buildings, and grounds. Other important staff include the Physician & Surgeon, the Matron, the Quartermaster, the Chaplain, and the Adjutant.
A group called the Board of Commissioners has been in charge of the Royal Hospital since 1702. The main person on this board is the HM Paymaster General, whose job is similar to Sir Stephen Fox's, who helped start the hospital. The Board's job is to guide the hospital, make sure the residents are cared for, and protect the historic buildings and grounds.
The Royal Hospital is also part of the Kensington and Chelsea Council area.
See also
- Chelsea Flower Show
- Healthcare in London
- List of hospitals in England
- International
- Royal Hospital Kilmainham (a similar place in Dublin)
- Les Invalides, the French equivalent of the Royal Hospital
- Institution des Invalides de la Legion Etrangere (for the French Foreign Legion)
- Old soldiers' home (in the USA)
