Who are we?
The Dresden Trust (DT) was founded in 1993 in response to a ‘Call from Dresden’ to help rebuild the city destroyed by Allied bombing in WW2.
With HRH the Duke of Kent as its Patron, the Trust raised over £1m and created the Golden Orb and Cross, which stand on the cupola of the rebuilt Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) as a symbol of enduring friendship.
Our mission
The Dresden Trust builds bridges of friendship and cooperation between the people of Britain and Dresden following the destruction of the historic centre by British bombing in 1945. We create bridges – and walk on them.
With reconciliation largely achieved in the 30 years since its foundation, the Trust today focuses on cooperation with Dresden in friendly interchanges, learning, culture, conferences, and enhancement of public spaces. We relate with people of all ages and social classes.
We share our experience in healing the wounds of war by cooperating with other organisations dedicated to this cause.
Through fund-raising and events, we aim to mobilise the people of Britain behind our philanthropic goals. Overall, we are committed to making a significant contribution to good British-German relations.
80th Anniversary Commemoration
The 9th October 2025 marks the 90th birthday of His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, an extraordinary milestone in the life of a distinguished public figure whose dedication to international understanding has been formidable. The Dresden Trust extends its congratulations and best wishes to its Royal Patron on this special occasion.
Throughout his life, The Duke of Kent has supported over 140 charities and organisations, encompassing a wide range of issues from war commemoration to social care. His efforts have made a lasting impact on countless individuals and communities across the United Kingdom, Germany and beyond.
As Royal Patron of The Dresden Trust for over 30 years, The Duke has played a vital role in the Trust’s mission of fostering reconciliation between the United Kingdom and Germany following the bombing of Dresden in 1945. In recognition of his enduring contribution to peace and international understanding, he was awarded the Dresden Peace Prize in 2015.
The Dresden Trust is profoundly grateful for The Duke of Kent’s continued patronage. He continues to inspire those working towards a more peaceful and cooperative world.
On 13th February, The Dresden Trust’s Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of Kent, and all 7 Trustees attended the 80th anniversary commemoration of the British bombing of Dresden in 1945. The Duke inaugurated a new Learning Path illustrating Dresden’s glorious and tragic history. The Path was designed for schoolchildren by Trustee Daniel Schieferdecker, together with partners in Dresden. Interactivity enables schoolchildren to access also from elsewhere in Germany and abroad. The Duke made a speech in German at the main event in the City Hall, and Chairman Marcus Ferrar took part in a panel discussion with Dresden schoolchildren and teachers. As snow fell at dusk, the Duke and all 7 Trustees joined in a Human Chain of solidarity with thousands of Dresdners. At a difficult time in the world, this moving commemoration showed that terrible destruction in war can be followed by reconciliation, cooperation and friendship.
You can see more pictures of the event HERE.
