The Duchess of Edinburgh Opens The Lighthouse Aldershot

HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh Officially Opens The Lighthouse Aldershot

The Lighthouse Aldershot proudly welcomed Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh on Monday 28th April 2025 for the official opening of the town’s newest community hub and centre for hope.

Located in the heart of the Tices Meadow area in Aldershot, The Lighthouse is a vibrant space dedicated to supporting individuals and families in need through a wide range of services including practical support, wellbeing activities, creative workshops, and pathways to resilience. The centre brings people together in order to foster connection, compassion, and transformation within the community.

The Duchess was given a grand tour of the space, meeting volunteers and chatting with guests who’ve already been impacted by the centre’s warmth and practical support. Her Royal Highness unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the opening and planted a blueberry bush to celebrate the importance of cultivating community-based initiatives like this one.

“It’s not just a building — it’s a lifeline,” said Erik Jespersen, one of the charity’s co-founders. “The Lighthouse is a place where people rediscover their worth, their confidence, and their future. This centre is a beacon of hope for so many, and today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for our community.”

 he Duchess has been patron of The Lighthouse charity since 2022, which now works across Surrey and Hampshire. The charity supports thousands of people a year through holistic, relational, and volunteer-led services rooted in love, dignity, and transformation.

Today’s event is a proud milestone, not just for Aldershot, but for everyone who believes in the power of community and the beauty of second chances.