Short-cuts...
The Royal Homes was established in 1899, initially in Chelsea for widows of the Boer War, by Colonel Sir James Gildea GBE KCVO CB who was the founder of what is now SSAFA Forces Help. The two charities were affiliated subsequently.
The Chelsea building having become too small, Colonel Gildea asked for Royal help, and in 1902 Queen Alexandra made a grant of £10,000, with a further £5,000 in 1903. With these generous gifts and other funds, Colonel Gildea bought land in Wimbledon and built on it the Court, substantially as it stands today. The building was completed in 1905 and on 15th July in that year the opening ceremony was performed by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother visited the Court in 1951 and again in 1973 when she formally reopened it following extensive internal modernisation.