HRH Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, has been President of BAFTA since February 2010
President
HRH The Duke of Cambridge, KG
Vice-Presidents
Barbara Broccoli - Vice President for Film
Greg Dyke - Vice President for Television
David Gardner - Vice President for Games
HRH The Duke of Cambridge's appointment to BAFTA's presidency in February 2010 follows a long tradition of Royal involvement with BAFTA; all but one of BAFTA's presidents in its history have been members of the Royal Family.
HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, was the organisation's first president in 1959, a year after The British Film Academy (founded 1947) and the Guild of Television Producers and Directors merged to create the Society of Film and Television Arts (SFTA, a forerunner of BAFTA).
AP/REX/Shutterstock
The Earl Mountbatten of Burma, The Duke of Edinburgh's uncle, took over the presidency from 1966, until HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, was named president from 1973, and remained in the post until 2000.
The Duke of Cambridge succeeded Lord Attenborough – the only non-Royal president of BAFTA to date – in 2010, to become the fifth in its history.
BAFTA/Guy Levy
HRH The Duke of Cambridge and BAFTA
Over the course of his presidency, the Duke has generously offered his time to help BAFTA raise awareness of our charitable activity. Here is a selection of that work.
BAFTA/Jonathan Birch
Charities Forum
BAFTA and Aardman co-hosted an event for the young beneficiaries of the charities supported by TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at the home of BAFTA in London.
Visit the Charities Forum event press release for more information >
Alan Richardson Pix-AR.co.uk
BAFTA Young Games Designers Showcase
TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met young beneficiaries of BAFTA’s support for new talent in the games industry during a visit to Dundee. The event included winners of a UK-wide game design competition, as well as current and former games students who are supported by BAFTA.
See the Young Games Designers Royal Visit press release for more information >
China State Visit
HRH The Duke of Cambridge presented a gift to Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, during the President's State Visit to the United Kingdom on behalf of BAFTA. The gift was presented at a showcase of UK creativity at Lancaster House.
Shanghai Film Museum BAFTA Presentation
HRH The Duke of Cambridge presented a BAFTA to the Shanghai Film Museum as a donation to the museum’s collection in recognition of China’s rich film culture and as a symbol of BAFTA's intentions to forge stronger links with the creative talent in the country during our first visit to mainland China.
See the Shanghai Mask Presentation press release for more information >
BAFTA/Jonny Birch
Give Something Back
In November 2013, HRH The Duke of Cambridge officially launched BAFTA's ‘Give Something Back’ industry campaign, calling for BAFTA members, award winners and industry organisations to contribute towards BAFTA’s charitable activities.
BAFTA/Jamie Simonds
Prince William Scholarships
In 2013, at the official opening of the Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, HRH The Duke of Cambridge announced the launch of Prince William Scholarships in Film, Television and Games, supported by BAFTA and Warner Bros.
Read the original press release on the launch of the Prince William Scholarships >
BAFTA/Stewart Cook
BAFTA Brits to Watch
In 2011, The Duke and The Duchess of Cambridge supported the inaugural BAFTA Brits to Watch event California, USA, while on their post-wedding tour of North America and Canada.
Visit the 'BAFTA Brits to Watch' page for more information >
Patronages and the Charities Forum
As well as being President of BAFTA, The Duke - along with his wife The Duchess of Cambridge and his brother Prince Harry - is the president or patron of a number of other organisations, collectively known as the Charities Forum, in which BAFTA plays an active role. Their Royal Highnesses support causes that reflect issues they care about, both at home and abroad.
Visit our Royal Connections page for more information on the Royal Family's involvement with the Academy.
Past Presidents and Vice Presidents
Presidents
| 1959-1965 | HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh |
| 1966-1972 | The Earl Mountbatten of Burma |
| 1972-2000 | HRH Princess Anne (1987 - HRH The Princess Royal) |
| 2002-2010 | Lord Attenborough |
| 2010-present | HRH Prince William (2011 - HRH The Duke of Cambridge) |
Vice Presidents
| 1973-1995 | Sir Richard Attenborough (1993 - Lord Attenborough) |
| 1995-2004 | Lord Puttnam |
| 2004-2010 | Michael Grade |
| 2009-2015 | Duncan Kenworthy (Film) |
| 2010-2015 | Sophie Turner Laing (Television) |
| 2016-present | Barbara Broccoli (Film) |
| 2016-present | Greg Dyke (Television) |
| 2017-present | David Gardner (Games) |