Leave a Legacy
Leave a gift in your Will to the Royal Ballet and Opera
Create an unforgettable legacy
Leaving a gift in your Will supports our work, on stage and behind the scenes.
In this video, Dame Monica Mason, former Director of The Royal Ballet (2002–2012), shares why gifts in Wills matter so deeply, and the lasting difference your legacy gift can make to the work of the Royal Ballet and Opera.
A legacy gift is more than an investment in the future. It is an expression of trust: a belief that the Royal Ballet and Opera will continue to nurture world-class artists, create unforgettable performances and make the extraordinary accessible to more people for years to come.
The Royal Opera House Endowment Fund stewards legacy gifts of all sizes to help us realise our commitment to produce the very best ballet and opera. Every year the Endowment Fund grants the Royal Ballet and Opera funding for productions, backstage improvements and helps support our extensive learning programmes. The trustees may also choose to make discretionary payments from the Endowment Fund at times of extraordinary need.
The Royal Opera House Endowment Fund is a true living legacy.
How to leave a gift in your Will
You can choose to leave your gift to the Endowment Fund to be put towards where the future need is greatest, or you can choose to direct it to one of four special funds within the Endowment: The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, Learning and Participation or the Royal Opera House for backstage and building improvements and projects.
If you decide to leave a gift to the Endowment Fund you will need to give your solicitor or Will writer the following details:
Royal Opera House Endowment Fund
Covent Garden
London WC2 9DD
Registered Charity Number: 1089928
Types of legacy:
- Residuary gift – a proportion of your estate; this type of gift is not affected by inflation and therefore keeps its value over time
- Pecuniary gift – a specified amount of money
- If you would like to leave an item or collection please speak to the Legacy Team directly
If you would like to find out more about leaving a gift in your Will or discover how these donations support our work, you can read our 'Leave a Legacy' brochure or contact Adam Gray by emailing legacies@rbo.org.uk or calling 0207 212 9162.
If you are the Executor of a Will, would like to make a gift in memory of a loved one or wish to discuss an existing Will then please contact Adam Gray on the details above.
Inheritance Tax
If you leave 10% or more of the value of your taxable estate to charity, not only is the gift itself exempt from IHT but the remaining estate is subject to IHT at 36% rather than 40%.
Gifts from USA
If you are a US citizen or resident, you can leave a gift through the American Friends of Covent Garden, which is fully deductible for US estate tax purposes.
We recommend seeking the advice of your solicitor and a tax advisor in considering how best to make your gift both in the UK or internationally.
Baton Associates
Once you make the decision to leave us a gift in your Will and have notified us through a pledge form, we would be pleased to invited you to join us as a Baton Associate. As a 'Baton' you will receive invitations to special events throughout the Season and will have the opportunity to meet fellow Batons and staff members, and find out more about our work and plans. Baton Associates also receive a regular newsletter to keep them updated about our work .
We know that some legacy donors prefer to keep their decision private, and of course we respect your wish for anonymity. You are still very welcome to tell us about your gift so that we can quietly thank you during your lifetime and ensure we understand the wishes for your gift as much as possible.
You can let us know you are leaving a gift by completing a legacy pledge form or by contacting the Legacy team.
Your Impact
The greatest strength of legacy giving is its lasting impact. Its achievements are the result of a shared belief: that ballet and opera matter, and that future generations should continue to benefit from the inspiration, creativity and connection they provide.
The impact of legacies can be seen:
- In classrooms and communities
- On stage and behind the scenes
- In cherished traditions and bold new ideas
The 2026/27 Season marks 25 years since the first grant from the Endowment Fund was awarded to the Royal Opera House Foundation.
Since then, legacy gifts have helped transform artistic ambition into lived experience for artists, young people and communities across the UK and beyond.
Every gift has its own personal story. Together, those gifts have created something far greater: a lasting source of support that enables the Royal Ballet and Opera to invest in artistic excellence, nurture talent, widen access and plan confidently for the future.
We look forward to sharing more with you about the impact of the Endowment Fund over 25 years later this Season.
Legacy Supporters
- Sheila Adams
- Mr John Douglas Allen
- Veronica Allen
- Alta Advisers
- Andrew Baster
- Mr Maurice Benaim
- Mrs Irina Berger
- Mr Richard Bradburn
- Mr Peter Brian and Mrs Barbara Ann Lockwood
- Molly Brocklesby
- Linda May Burgess
- Mrs Carolyn Calcutt
- Mosco and Hazel Carner
- Sonia Churchill
- Eric Cohen
- John Anthony Costin
- Ms Carol Jerry Crichton
- Rosemary Crow
- Jevons Curtis
- Alan Davidson
- Professor Martyn Davis
- Jacqueline Dean
- Mr John Deby
- Mrs Sara Doff
- Kenneth Downton Jones
- Miss Joan Edwards
- Peter Espenhahn
- Mrs Amanda Iris Fewtrell
- Moyra Finlay
- Jack and Eunice Foley
- Hamish and Sophie Forsyth
- Bernard Sidney Foster
- Richard Foulkes
- Mr Anthony Fowell
- John Franklin
- David Frederick
- Linda and Michael Gainsbury
- Joanne Giles
- Roselle Godeaux
- Geoffrey Bransom Griffiths
- Mrs Guerrini
- Paul Hamlyn Education Fund
- John and Brenda Hann
- Judy Harris
- Mrs Eileen J. Hirst
- Howard Hodgkin
- Arthur and Mary Holyoake
- Mr and Mrs Stanley Honeyman
- Patrick Howard
- Maureen Keating
- Herbert Kennard
- Gordon Kiff
- Daniel Kirkpatrick
- Gabor Lacko
- Miss Maureen Laverack
- Gertrude Mary Looi
- Margaret Loraine
- Olive Lambert
- Geoffrey Levy
- Stella Mainstone
- David F Marshall
- Dianne Marshall
- Sir Peter and Lady June Marychurch
- Gerry and Frances Matthews
- Anna Melluish
- Mrs Grace Mostyn
- John Murray
- Beryl. Lady Mustill
- Pamela O’Neill
- David Patterson
- David Peel
- Ron Peet
- David Frederick Perry and Daphne Joy Perry
- Richard Phillips
- Mr Ross Roberts
- Philis Rockliff
- Mrs Dorrit Rodley
- Mary and Peter Roe
- Kathleen Roper
- Anne Ross
- Hugh Hoseason Saffery
- The Jean Sainsbury Royal Opera House Fund
- Diana Sanderson
- Keith and Anne Sansom
- Timothy Sole
- Mrs Vernie Stilwell
- Betsy Surry
- Leslie Talbut
- Ian Taylor
- June Thomas
- Eileen Thomasson
- Leonie Thorne-Thorne
- Hana Tiller
- Judith Vickers
- Mimi and Colin Watts
- Anonymous (21)
We are grateful for the many other bequests that are left to The Royal Opera House Endowment Fund.
Philanthropy to The Royal Opera House Endownment Fund
- Hamish and Sophie Forsyth
Gifts in Memory
- The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust for the Hon. Mrs Gillian Fane
- Dr Bruce Bennett
- Mrs Jean Brackenbury in memory of Mr M P Brackenbury
- The Donald Crawshaw and Matthew Hoffman Charitable Fund for Richard Goeltz
- Mr John Davidson and Mr John Cundill in memory of Mr Gareth Hadley
The Royal Ballet and Opera also thanks the many donors not listed who support its work.
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE CAPITAL APPEAL
Dame Vivien Duffield DBE Chairman