2011 sees Royal London celebrate its 150th anniversary.  

Tradition has it that on 2 February 1861, Henry Ridge and Joseph Degge were sitting in a London coffee shop.  They had good jobs working for an organisation that provided insurance against funeral expenses – Royal Liver.  Over coffee, they decided to set up a business in competition with their employer - to be called the Royal London Life Insurance and Benefit Society - a company dedicated to helping people provide for their future.  This company is now the Royal London Group as we know it.    

Over the past 150 years, Royal London has grown through acquisition, investment and sound financial decisions to become the UK’s largest mutual life and pensions company. We are now a multi branded Group made up of 8 distinct businesses.  Having agreed terms, we are currently in discussions to acquire Royal Liver.  What perfect symmetry it will be if, a century and a half later, the company that our founders left becomes part of the one they founded.

Our 150 year anniversary is a significant milestone and an exciting opportunity to recognise the remarkable history of Royal London and the outstanding people and businesses that make us the Group we are today.

Remarkable History

2 February 2011 was the 150th anniversary of the day our founders, Degge and Ridge, met in a London coffee shop.  We held a group wide coffee morning and bake sale and raised over £3,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

On the 10 April 1861, less than 10 weeks after their meeting in a coffee shop, a certificate was signed that entitled us to begin trading as a business and The Royal London Friendly Society was born.  On this day 150 years later, we published our book 'Royal London – the First 150 Years', written by former Company Secretary Murray Ross. The book tells the story of our rich history as a mutual life and pensions company.  A condensed version of the book, entitled 'Outstanding People. Remarkable History.' has also been produced.  Click here to view the interactive booklet.