Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has been awarded her first honorary doctorate for her work supporting osteoporosis patients; she now is a Doctor of Science at the University of Southampton.
On Thursday, the Duchess attended a graduation ceremony at the university where she received her scroll, wearing her doctoral gown in the blue and red of the school
She gave an acceptance speech during the ceremony where she recognised the work of the university in a field of health she is passionate about: her mother and grandmother died from the disease.
“It is a deeply personal connection: I watched my own mother and grandmother suffering the appalling consequences of osteoporosis, which in the end resulted in their deaths,” Camilla said.
“When my mother died in 1994, I knew scarcely anything about osteoporosis but I was determined to find out more – and to find a way of helping other people avoid the same excruciating pain and disregard that she encountered in those bad old days.”
The Duchess also had some praise for the charity is doing and she also hailed the charity, which “never forgets the people for whom it works, those who must live with osteoporosis every day.”
Camilla became patron of the National Osteoporosis Society before her marriage to Prince Charles in 2005, and then its president in 2001. After receiving her Honorary Doctorate of Science, the Duchess visited The Centre for Hybrid Bio Devices Laboratory in the Institute for Life Sciences building at The University of Southampton.
Professor Cyrus Cooper, the University’ s Director and has worked with Camilla on numerous brittle bones prevention projects, recognized the dedication to supporting research staff.
The University, honoured the Duchess and said: “She has been a champion for all who work with, or suffer from, this debilitating disorder which leads to many thousands of fractures each year. The excellence of the clinical service and research program…would not have been possible without the encouragement and support that she has given.”
