The Duke of Gloucester's view of a typical working day

My role as a member of the Royal Family is to support The Queen on national occasions but, more importantly, to share the responsibility of visiting many parts of the Kingdom, when limits of time prevent Her Majesty from attending them all herself.

Inevitably my visits are less dramatic and of a smaller scale in every respect than The Queen's but it enables me to take part in all sorts of events which celebrate the achievements of individuals, companies, associations and whole communities thus spotlighting and acknowledging their success.

A typical day for me might consist of catching a train, being met by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant and then opening a new building, such as a factory or an extension to a school or even something as small as a village hall.

Next might be a visit to a hospice to meet the residents, staff and visitors, and especially the volunteers who help in the hospice or raise a large proportion of the money to run it.

Alternatively, it might be a centre run by the local authority for the benefit of the community and perhaps, finally, some conservation project, whereby an old but historically significant building has been restored and converted to new uses, probably of benefit to the community. An anniversary - particularly a centenary - is often a good opportunity for celebrating the contribution made by institutions and organisations.