Queen Elizabeth Celebrates Women’s Institute Centenary

Queen Elizabeth II was joined by the Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex this morning at the Annual General Meeting of the Women’s Institute at the Royal Albert Hall to mark the organisation’s 100th anniversary.

The royal trio – who are all members of their local WIs – were welcomed on stage at the Hall by 5,000 members of the WI from around the country. The Queen delivered a speech after being shown the Centenary Baton, calling attention to how much life has changed for women since 1915 when the WI was founded.

“In the century since the first WI groups were formed in North Wales and in Sussex, so much has changed for women in our society…Women have been granted the vote, British women have climbed Everest for the first time and the country has elected its first female Prime Minister. The Women’s Institute has been a constant throughout, gathering women together, encouraging them to acquire new skills and nurturing unique talents…In 2015 it continues to demonstrate that it can make a real difference to the lives of women of all ages and cultural backgrounds, in a spirit of friendship, cooperation and support,” she said.

Later, a fruit cake proved to be a slight bit stronger than the Queen, who had been asked to cut the official celebration cake. The 89-year-old monarch struggled to pull the knife out of the fruit cake, joking that she “could tell it was a good, rich one as it was so dense.” Princess Anne however came to the rescue, wiggling the knife around and pulling it free.

The Queen was her usual elegant self in a powder blue coat from Stewart Parvin over a pale blue dress featuring a grey and white floral pattern. Princess Anne chose a beige skirt suit with orange piping details paired with an orange blouse, while the Countess kept it simple in a white shift dress.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Anniversary, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, The Countess of Wessex, The Princess Royal.