Unite in ‘these turbulent times’, Duchess tells women

WOMEN of all ages and all walks of life must unite through “these turbulent times in which we live”, the Duchess of Cornwall has urged, saying it is more important than ever to work together.

The Duchess, speaking at the Women of the Year awards in London yesterday, said she could recall a time when it was “almost unheard of for women’s achievements to be recognised, let alone celebrated”.

Delivering an award at a lunch for more than 400 women, the Duchess said: “As the Victorian writer Matthew Arnold observed: ‘If there ever comes a time when the women of the world come together purely and simply for the benefit of mankind, it will be a force such as the world has never known’.”

The Duchess praised the “courage, selflessness and dedication” of those being honoured, including members of the Manchester emergency and medical services who dealt with the terror attack in the city earlier this year.

It was one of two emotional awards ceremonies attended by the Royal family yesterday, before Prince Harry delivered a speech hailing the courage of seriously ill children, as patron of Wellchild. The Prince paid tribute to some of the bravest children in the country, saying support for them and their families is “desperately needed”.

Speaking at a glitzy awards show in London, he said: “Many of the children and young people Wellchild support have been dealt the hardest card imaginable in life, and yet their courage inspires the most incredible strength in those around them.”

A total of 16 awards honoured children, doctors and nurses, and young carers coping with challenges well beyond their years.