The Royal British Legion Madrid Branch BR4041

The Madrid Branch of the RBL was constituted in November 2022 and became an official branch (BR4041) in February 2023 as part of Spain District North.

RBL Madrid Committee
The Madrid Branch Committee with HE Hugh Elliott, British Ambassador to Spain

About the Royal British Legion

Membership is open to everyone who shares the values of the Legion to support the Armed Forces community, irrespective of nationality or background.

The Royal British Legion is the United Kingdom’s leading Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces past and present and their families. It is also the national Custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Armed Forces Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy.

Our members predominantly come from the Madrid area, and are a mix of British, Spanish and other foreign nationals, serving military personnel and military veterans, civilians, men and women, as well as a small youth element that is growing steadily.

The Royal Charter

The Royal British Legion is a body incorporated by Royal Charter rather than under the Companies Act. The Charter sets out RBL’s objectives and powers. It also details how the organisation is to be structured, organised, managed and run.

The first Charter was granted to the British Legion, as it was known then, in 1925 by King George Ⅴ. That first Charter has been changed by various Supplemental Charters to develop alongside the needs of the serving and ex-Service community, and the evolving structure of The Royal British Legion.

Support

The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving men and women, veterans and their families wherever they are in the world.

If you are a serving member of the Armed Forces, have served or are the dependent or carer of someone who has served in the UK’s Armed Forces, then you could be eligible for help from our Branch in Madrid.

Spain District North also has a Community Support Coordinator who can provide help. He is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, at +34 676 451 780 or you can email .

Meetings

The Madrid Branch meets at The Secret Kingdoms bookshop on the first Sunday of the month at 5.30pm. The bookshop is located at Calle Moratín 7, 28014 Madrid.
See map at ///clipped.victory.chipper

Poppy Appeal

The British remembrance poppy is the trademark of The Royal British Legion. The RBL states, “The red poppy is our registered mark and its only lawful use is to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal”, the yearly fundraising drive in the weeks before Remembrance Day. These poppies are “worn to commemorate the sacrifices of our Armed Forces and to show support to those still serving today.” Other poppy merchandise is sold throughout the year as part of ongoing fundraising.

In England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Spain, the poppies typically have two red paper petals mounted on a green plastic stem with a single green paper leaf and a prominent black plastic central boss. The stem has an additional branch used as a pin to anchor the poppy in the lapel or buttonhole. The yearly sale of poppies is a major source of income for the RBL.

The poppy has no fixed price; it is sold for a donation or the price may be suggested by the seller. The black plastic centre of the poppy was marked “Haig Fund” until 1994 but is now marked “Poppy Appeal”.

In Scotland, the poppies are produced and distributed by the Earl Haig Fund Scotland. Poppies produced by Earl Haig Fund Scotland appear slightly different from their RBL counterparts, with the Scottish poppy being curled with four petals and no leaf.