Celebration funds given boost by Royal family friend’s estate

THE Jubilee pageant is being funded with the help of a friend of the Royal family, who left £50million in his will to pay for a new royal yacht.

The estate of Sir Donald Gosling, who died in 2019, has made a “significant contribution” to the £15million pageant through his foundation, which is now chaired by his son.

Sir Donald, who built his fortune turning bomb sites into parking as cofounder of National Car Parks, gave an estimated £100million to good causes in his lifetime, and saved HMS Victory for the nation.

He was made Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom by the Queen in 2012, a ceremonial position to acknowledge his contribution to maritime life and the Royal Navy. With a deep love of the sea, he long campaigned for a new Royal Yacht Britannia and reportedly left £50million in his will to the cause.

A Westminster Abbey service of thanksgiving for his life was attended by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Prince Michael of Kent.

The Sir Donald Gosling Foundation was this week publicly thanked by Platinum Jubilee Pageant organisers, who have successfully raised “between £10million and £15million” to stage it.

Irish-American arts philanthropists William, Judith, Douglas and James Bollinger, were also name as making “this joyous celebration” possible.

Corporate sponsors include Meta, previously known as Facebook, Jaguar Land Rover and Cadbury. Lloyds Bank, Burberry, Charlotte Tilbury, JCB, Moët & Chandon, M&S, McDonald’s, Fortnum & Mason, Sotheby’s and Waitrose & John Lewis are among the household name brands that have contributed.