Queen steps down as patron of several organisations

The Queen will step down as patron of a number of organisations at the end of her 90th birthday year. Organisations including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Barnardo's, the Rugby Football Union, the British Cycling Federation and the NSPCC were on a list of 25 the monarch will step down from. The patronages will be passed on to other members of the Royal Family from 2017, Buckingham Palace said.