8 March 2024- Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended Save the Children’s star-studded International Women’s Day lunch in London today. The event was hosted by Save the Children ambassador and Women’s Network founding member, Natasha Kaplinsky OBE. The room was filled with inspiring women who have supported the charity’s work in a significant way over the years.

Her Royal Highness, who is Save the Children UK’s patron, met and thanked women and girls who have volunteered, campaigned, and fundraised for the charity. Also in attendance were celebrity guests, including musician and campaigner Myleene Klass, who has been an ambassador for Save the Children for over ten years, alongside Binky Felstead, Fats Timbo and DJ Cuppy. At lunch the guests heard from The Princess Royal herself alongside Natasha Kaplinsky OBE and Save the Children UK’s Interim CEO Gemma Sherrington.  

The event hosted a photo exhibition showcasing women Save the Children support from a rural community in Guatemala. The images taken by Brazilian female photographer, Luisa Dörr, celebrated women's resilience and adaptation skills in the face of climate change.

Her Royal Highness also met inspiring fundraiser 10-year-old Amaya Rahman from London. After watching the news and seeing what was happening to children in Gaza, Amaya organised a ‘sleepout’ in her school playground along with eight classmates to raise money for Save the Children’s Emergency Gaza Appeal. The friends braved freezing temperatures as they spent the night in sleeping bags to raise over £6,000 for the appeal.  

During the event, Her Royal Highness spoke to guests and shared that “On a day like today we do celebrate the real difference that women have made and can continue to make but that is nothing new. Giving confidence to women and children in their families is something that Save the Children does better than anyone else. We need to give them the confidence to understand how much more they can do. And I am grateful for those men who also join us on that journey.”

Gemma Sherrington, Interim CEO of Save the Children UK said:

“We are delighted to be celebrating inspirational women who have contributed in significant ways to Save the Children over the years. Save the Children believes in a world where every girl has the power to determine her own future. We are proud that girls are leading the fight for equality across the world, and we will continue to advocate for women and girls' rights across the globe. We are incredibly grateful for the support of the many inspiring and generous women here today who help us to ensure every child gets the chance of a future they deserve.”

Amaya Rahman said:

“It makes me very happy that one small act can create something so much bigger. I feel privileged to be invited to attend this event.

“Right now, there is a terrible situation happening in Gaza and the West Bank which has been going on for many years, and I think it’s time for change. Many children like me and younger, even babies, must face what war is like, what physical pain is like and most importantly, what losing a loved one is like. That is why me and some other schoolchildren at St Bart's, with the help of our awesome headteacher, had a sponsored sleepout to feel the discomfort of sleeping on the cold night’s street.

“We know children in Palestine are scared and very sad, we hope our fundraiser for Save the Children will inspire others to do the same and do what we can to help.”

Save the Children Ambassador, Myleene Klass said:

“As an Ambassador of Save the Children, it was an honour to meet The Princess Royal today for International Women’s Day and celebrate so many inspirational women that have given up their time, energy and money to support this incredible charity. 

“Over the last decade in my role as an Ambassador, I have seen first-hand the difference each donation makes in protecting and improving the lives of children, so that they do not just survive but thrive. I will continue to play my small part and encourage others to support Save the Children's life changing work in helping transform children’s futures.”

For further information about Save the Children please visit: www.savethechildren.org.uk

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Photos available to download here.

Photo exhibition from Luisa Dörr available for download here.

For further information please contact: Save the Children PR Manager, Flo Brookes, +44 20 3763 1241, f.brookes@savethechildren.org.uk

 About Save the Children: 

Save the Children exists to help every child get the chance of a future they deserve. In more than 100 countries, including the UK, we make sure children stay safe, healthy and learning – finding new ways to reach children who need us most. For a century, we’ve stood up for children’s rights and made sure their voices are heard. With children, for children, we change the future for good. 

Myleene Klass:  

Over the last decade Myleene has been a brilliant advocate for Save the Children’s work, playing a pivotal role in launching multiple campaigns, championing our work for children across the globe and raising money through fundraising, including donating her £100k I Am A Celebrity Prize money to Save the Children too. Myleene has visited Save the Children’s work in The Philippines, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Jordan, Nepal as well as the UK. Myleene also helped launch the very first Christmas Jumper Day back in 2012, continuing to champion the campaign every year since, and even designing a range of Christmas Jumpers with her children in 2022.

Natasha Kaplinsky:

Natasha Kaplinsky is one of the UK’s best-known broadcasters, anchoring the news for Sky, the BBC, Channel 5, and ITV. Since 2010, Natasha has been a hardworking and dedicated Ambassador for Save the Children. She is passionate about connecting likeminded women to form a powerful and influential network.