The King’s Cup seeks to elevate military rowing: it honours our past, celebrates our militaries’ ‘fittest and finest’, mirrors the opportunities for women in the military, and makes an enduring contribution to strategic alliances.

One hundred years on it builds on the triumphs of a 1919 world determined to return to peace.

Who wouldn’t wish to support an event that honours our past, empowers servicewomen and men in allied armed forces?

Battles are won long before force of arms are deployed and keeping the peace requires a healthy, celebrated, respected and fully funded military. Service does not always mean sacrifice and not all veterans are victims.

Nations need events that help build allies and alliances, experiences that strengthen our human potential, engagements that build societal and political capital and capture the public imagination..

The King’s Cup is to be raced again -

to honour the past, celebrate women in defence and to bind former foes now firm allies.

The King’s Cup is a force multiplier:

The first time serving men and women have rowed in the same boat at an elite international event

The first time in 100 years, a military event at Henley Royal Regatta

The first time 126 Allies from eight nations have rowed, raced and lived together

The first time a major international sporting event in the wake of British Armed Forces week

The first time eight nation’s Heads of States contributed valuable and symbolic materiel into the alloyed King’s Cup

The King’s Cup is a trojan horse for a sport with tremendous military potential and a proxy for a much bigger conversation on the power of sport to bridge any emerging gap between the military and broader society and those that serve.

The King’s Cup engages with families, friends and units of military athletes and preserves a legacy of goodwill, profile and opportunity for following military crews.