His Royal Highness Prince Charles has been named the patron of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Cambridge Overseas Trust, the Trusts announced recently.

His Royal Higheness, who is himself a Trinity graduate, will take up the position this October. The role will see a continuation of the Prince’s already long-standing support for the two societies, which were founded by the University to give financial assistance to students who would otherwise be unable to take up their place at Cambridge.

The support provided in turn plays an instrumental role in ensuring that the University is able to abide by its remit that “no student should be deterred from applying to the university because of financial difficulties”.

However CUSU’s Access Officer, Andy McGowen, thinks that the appointment of such a high profile Patron will have little influence on the University’s campaign to attract prospective applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.

According to McGowen, “It is not something that will really have an effect on students. Most people will not even be aware of who the previous patron was. Prince Phillip is officially the Chancellor of the University, but it isn't something that is really known outside of Cambridge (or inside it for that matter!)”

Although the University supports many schemes with Royal association, McGowen believes that patrons such as HRH “have virtually no role in their administration” and consequently will have no direct involvement with any decision-making or work that is carried out.

This belief was echoed by second-year Engineering student Tom Dalton. “It makes little difference who the Patron actually is,” he said. “They won’t be doing anything to personally aid students.

He added, "As somebody who has profited directly from the Newton Bursary, I feel the most important thing following this new appointment is that the great work of the Trusts develop and continue.”

However, he remained positive about the beneficial impact the appointment of HRH could have on the future of the University’s Target and Access schemes.

“In terms of profile raising [of access schemes] a recognized figurehead is without doubt beneficial and welcomed,” he said. “So, for that reason the appointment of HRH can be no bad thing.”