The Royal British Legion

Analysis

The Royal British Legion is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 1977, 49 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and disability, which this site groups under health and saving lives. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides human resources.

In the financial year ending September 2025, The Royal British Legion reported income of £168.5m and spending of £177.6m, spending 105% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £137.4m to £168.5m (+23%), an average of +5.2% a year. Over the whole period it spent 108% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Royal British Legion sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (£167.8m), General Medical Council (£171.5m) and The Halo Trust (£165.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 57%, charitable activities 23%, trading 15% and investments 5.5%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £25.0m. Charitable activities took 72% of spending and raising funds 27%. Grants to other organisations totalled £6.7m. Reserves of £102.9m would cover about 7 months of spending at that rate. It employed 1,765 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.