Gift guide: The royal causes you can donate to for Giving Tuesday and all holiday season

December 03, 2019

<strong>This content was based on a piece that appears in <a href=https://magazines.rogers.com/special/hello_christmas><i>A Very Royal Christmas</a></i>, <i>HELLO! Canada</i>'s special Christmas issue, which is available at newsstands everywhere right now for $9.99! It's also available to order online. If choose to go the digital route, order by Dec. 8 to get it delivered in time for Dec. 25!
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<p>The <A href=/tags/0/british-royals><strong>Royal Family</a></strong> knows there’s no greater present than the gift of giving, especially during the holiday season. And there are few royals who demonstrate this better than <a href=/tags/0/prince-charles><strong>Prince Charles</a></strong> and <strong><a href=/tags/0/Camilla-parker-bowles>Duchess Camilla</a></strong>, who open the doors of thir home every Christmas for a children’s charity event.
<p>Spreading holiday cheer to those who need it most, the kind-hearted duchess invites children living with life-limiting illnesses to help decorate the splendid tree at Clarence House, the London residence she shares with her husband of 14 years.
<p>“The tree decorating for me is always the start of Christmas,” Camilla has said. “I come in and see the tree and the children, and it just gets me in a Christmas mood.”
<p>The tree-dressing is always followed by lunch, served by the duchess herself – last year the children were treated to sausage and mash in the shape of smiley faces, as well as cake and gingerbread cookies.
<p>“It’s just such a wonderful event,” grateful mom <strong>Kerrie Downey</strong> said during last year’s festivities. While fellow mother <strong>Elizabeth Harvey</strong> said, “It means everything to be here… Camilla is such a lovely lady.”
<p>Though headlined by the duchess – this Christmas will mark her 14th year putting on the event, which supports children’s charities of which she is a patron: Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity – the Duke of Cornwall has been known to throw his own Clarence House Christmas parties in the past, specifically for children living with cancer.
<p>“From the very beginning, I have wanted to improve the lives of others,” the future King has said.
<p>In the spirit of giving back, <i>HELLO! Canada</i> has curated a list (and checked it twice!) of Royal Family-supported charities that anyone in Canada can get involved with this Christmas. <strong>Click through the gallery (or keep reading if you’re on mobile) to see what you can do this holiday season.</strong>
<p>Photo: © John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty Images

This content was based on a piece that appears in A Very Royal Christmas, HELLO! Canada's special Christmas issue, which is available at newsstands everywhere right now for $9.99! It's also available to order online. If choose to go the digital route, order by Dec. 8 to get it delivered in time for Dec. 25!

The Royal Family knows there’s no greater present than the gift of giving, especially during the holiday season. And there are few royals who demonstrate this better than Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, who open the doors of thir home every Christmas for a children’s charity event.

Spreading holiday cheer to those who need it most, the kind-hearted duchess invites children living with life-limiting illnesses to help decorate the splendid tree at Clarence House, the London residence she shares with her husband of 14 years.

“The tree decorating for me is always the start of Christmas,” Camilla has said. “I come in and see the tree and the children, and it just gets me in a Christmas mood.”

The tree-dressing is always followed by lunch, served by the duchess herself – last year the children were treated to sausage and mash in the shape of smiley faces, as well as cake and gingerbread cookies.

“It’s just such a wonderful event,” grateful mom Kerrie Downey said during last year’s festivities. While fellow mother Elizabeth Harvey said, “It means everything to be here… Camilla is such a lovely lady.”

Though headlined by the duchess – this Christmas will mark her 14th year putting on the event, which supports children’s charities of which she is a patron: Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity – the Duke of Cornwall has been known to throw his own Clarence House Christmas parties in the past, specifically for children living with cancer.

“From the very beginning, I have wanted to improve the lives of others,” the future King has said.

In the spirit of giving back, HELLO! Canada has curated a list (and checked it twice!) of Royal Family-supported charities that anyone in Canada can get involved with this Christmas. Click through the gallery (or keep reading if you’re on mobile) to see what you can do this holiday season.

Photo: © John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>GIVE LIKE... THE CAMBRIDGES</h2>
<p>These charities are supported by <strong><a href=/tags/0/prince-william>Prince William</a></strong> and <strong><a href=/tags/0/kate-middleton>Duchess Kate</a></strong>:
<p><li><a href=https://earthwatch.org/>EarthWatch</a>: It champions a sustainable environment
<li><a href=https://centrepoint.org.uk/>Centrepoint</a>: This was a cause dear to <strong><a href=/tags/0/princess-diana>Princess Diana</a></strong>’s heart that supports homeless youth
<li><a href=http://www.henryvanstraubenzeemf.org.uk/>Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund</a>: This was founded for William’s late friend. It helps lift children in Uganda out of poverty through education
<li><a href=https://www.nursingnow.org/>Nursing Now</a>: Empowers nurses to tackle 21st-century health challenges
<li><a href=https://www.actiononaddiction.org.uk/>Action on Addiction</a>: Research, education and hands-on support
<li><a href=https://www.place2be.org.uk/>Place2Be</a>: Mental health initiatives for school-age kids
<li><a href=https://www.unicef.org/>UNICEF</a>: Saving children around the world</li>
<p>Photo: © Karwai Tang/WireImage

<h2>GIVE LIKE... THE SUSSEXES</h2>
<p>These charities are supported by <strong><a href=/tags/0/meghan-markle>Duchess Meghan</a></strong> and <strong><a href=/tags/0/prince-harry>Prince Harry</a>:</strong>
<p><li><a href=https://www.queenscommonwealthtrust.org/>Queen’s Commonwealth Trust</a>: Empowers young leaders to make a difference in their communities
<li><a href=https://www.africanparks.org/>African Parks</a>: Manages national parks and protected areas throughout Africa
<li><a href=https://sentebale.org/>Sentebale</a>: Supports children in Lesotho whose families are afflicted with HIV/AIDS
<li><a href=https://camfed.org/>Camfed</a>: Educates young girls in rural parts of Africa
<li><a href=https://baby2baby.org/>Baby2Baby</a>: Diapers, clothing and necessities for little ones living in poverty
<li><a href=https://halotrust.org/>HALO Trust</a>: Eradicating landmines around the globe. <A href=/tags/0/princess-diana><strong>Princess Diana</a></strong> was a patron
<li><a href=https://www.worldvision.ca/>World Vision</a>: Tackles poverty and injustice through humanitarian aid</li>
<p>Photo: © Geoff Pugh/AFP via Getty Images

<h2>GIVE LIKE… THE QUEEN</h2>
<p>These are some of the charities Her Majesty supports:
<p><li><a href= http://www.cancer.ca/en/?region=on>Canadian Cancer Society</a>: Funds research into cancers and provides services to those living with them
<li><a href= https://www.redcross.ca/>Canadian Red Cross Society</a>: Helps vulnerable people around the world
<li><a href= https://www.family-action.org.uk/>Family Action</a>: Provides financial support for families who are disadvantaged or isolated across the UK
<li><a href= https://www.nacro.org.uk>Nacro</a>: A social justice organization working to support young people and help reduce crime in the UK
<li><a href= https://www.savethechildren.ca/>Save the Children</a>: Works to improve children’s rights worldwide
<li><a href= https://www.queenscommonwealthtrust.org/>Queen’s Commonwealth Trust</a>: Empowers young leaders to make a difference in their communities</li>
<p>Photo: © John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>GIVE LIKE... THE CORNWALLS</h2>
<p>Charities supported by <strong><a href=/tags/0/prince-charles>Prince Charles</a></strong> and <strong><a href=/tags/0/camilla-parker-bowles>Duchess Camilla</a></strong>:
<p><li><a href=https://elephant-family.org/>The Elephant Family</a>: This organization promotes the protection and conservation of the Asian elephant
<li><a href=https://actionaid.org/>ActionAid International</a>: Works for a “world free from poverty and injustice”
<li><a href=https://www.earthrangers.com/>Earth Rangers</a>: Encourages Canadian children to learn about environmental stewardship
<li><a href=https://www.ihpuk.org/>International Health Partners</a>: Helps provide free medical aid to those in need around the globe
<li><a href=https://www.wateraid.org/ca/>WaterAid</a>: Aims to improve water supply and sanitation in developing countries
<li><a href=https://www.shelterboxcanada.org/>Shelterbox</a>: Humanitarian aid for victims of natural disasters and conflicts
<p>Photo: © Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images

<h2>GIVE LIKE… PRINCE PHILIP</h2>
<p>These are some of the charities supported by the <a href=/tags/0/prince-philip><strong>Duke of Edinburgh</a></strong>:
<p><li><a href= https://bookaid.org/>Book Aid International</a>: Provides reading materials to hospitals and libraries in the developing world
<p><li><a href= https://fondationdelafaune.qc.ca/>Fondation de la Faune du Québec (Quebec Wildlife Foundation)</a>: Conservation organization working to protect all of the province’s wildlife
<li><a href= http://www.seaotters.org/>Friends of the Sea Otter</a>: Works to protect sea otters worldwide
<li><a href= http://www.birdlife.org/>BirdLife International</a>: Group of conservation organizations looking to conserve birds, their habitat and world biodiversity
<li><a href= https://plan-uk.org/>Plan International</a>: Promotes the right to sexual and reproductive healthcare worldwide</li>
<p>Photo: © Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images

<h2>GIVE LIKE… THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX</h2>
<p>These are some of the charities <Strong><a href=/tags/0/countess-of-wessex>Sophie</a></strong> and <strong><a href=/tags/0/prince-edward>Prince Edward</a></strong> support:
<p><li><a href= https://100women.org/>100 Women in Finance</a>: Empowers women in the financial sector through educational initiatives, peer support and philanthropy
<li><a href= https://www.meningitisnow.org/>Meningitis Now</a>: Supports people who have lived with the diseases and raises awareness about meningitis
<li><a href= https://www.visionuk.org.uk/>Vision 2020</a>: Seeks to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries by 2020</li>
<p>Photo: © David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images

This content was adapted from a piece that appears in <a href=https://magazines.rogers.com/special/hello_christmas><i>A Very Royal Christmas</a></i> , <i>HELLO! Canada</i>'s special Christmas issue, which is available at newsstands everywhere right now for $9.99! It's also available to order online. If choose to go the digital route, order by Dec. 8 to get it delivered in time for Dec. 25!