The Elizabeth R. Broadcasting Fund was set up in 1995 to assist the development of broadcasting skills in the Commonwealth. It began with a grant of £50,000 from the royalties of the original Elizabeth R TV programme.

It offers matching funds to recognised training organisations for specific projects to promote quality broadcasting and since its beginnings has helped hundreds of broadcasters throughout the Commonwealth learn new broadcasting techniques on study visits, training courses, seminars and conferences.

Now in its tenth year, the Fund has granted bursaries and scholarships to people from different broadcasting disciplines -- journalists, broadcast managers, producers, technical people and others -- to visit the UK and other Commonwealth countries in order to study best practice.

The Trustees of the charity have distributed the monies to a variety of reputable NGO's -- including the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association [CBA], One World Media, The Asia-Pacific Institute For Broadcasting Development [AIBD] and the Thomson Foundation -- all of which organise seminars and study visits according to the needs of each individual selected.

Matching grants have been offered through regular sponsors, including the Commonwealth Media Development Fund, the BBC's Grace Wyndham Goldie Trust Fund and individual sponsors as well as the Palace itself.