We’re proud to call HM The Queen the RNLI’s Patron. In this, her Diamond Jubilee year, we’re celebrating extraordinary commitment – Her Majesty’s commitment to the RNLI, our volunteers’ commitment to saving lives at sea, and your commitment to helping us fund a world-leading search and rescue service.

The new Tamar class lifeboat due on station in Eastbourne, East Sussex, this year will be named Diamond Jubilee in honour of this special occasion. Two generous legacies have got the fundraising for this £2.7M lifeboat off to a flying start, and we are appealing for a further £700,000 to reach the total.

We hope the Eastbourne Tamar will join the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June. We’re also planning a series of skydiving events around the UK – RNLI Jump for Jubilee. Visit rnli.org.uk/jump.

At a local level, lifeboat stations will light celebratory bonfires as part of the Commonwealth-wide Diamond Jubilee Beacons event on 4 June. On 3 June, local fundraising branches and guilds around the UK will take part in the Big Jubilee Lunch – communities will get together to break bread, have fun, and raise money for the RNLI in honour of our Patron’s big year.