Royal Hospital Chelsea

Coordinates: 51°29′11″N 0°9′28″W / 51.48639°N 0.15778°W / 51.48639; -0.15778

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for some 300 retired British soldiers of the British Army. It is an independent charity and relies partly upon donations from supporters to cover day-to-day running costs, in order to provide 21st Century care and accommodation for former veterans.

It is a 66-acre site located on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the residents at the Royal hospital are referred to (internally) as "In-Pensioners". Although they are more famously known as the "Chelsea pensioners".

To become a Chelsea Pensioner, any man or woman who is over the age of 65 and served as a regular soldier in the British Army may apply, on the basis they have found themselves in a time of need and are "of good character". They must not, however, have any dependent spouse or family and former Officers must have served at least 12 years in the ranks before receiving a commission.