A speech by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at an event to celebrate 25 years of the National Osteoporosis Society

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me assure those looking forward to their dinner and to Hal Cazalet’s Cabaret that this is not a speech but just a few words to welcome you all to St James's Palace tonight to support the National Osteoporosis Society and to thank the indomitable Carlyn Chisholm for putting this show on the road.

Some of you here will probably know that as President of the N.O.S I take every opportunity to spread the word about this devastating disease. It's very encouraging that occasionally it does now make front page news. Talking of that, an article I wrote for the Daily Mail should be lurking somewhere in your programme but please don't feel obliged to read it all!

Now I couldn't let this evening go by without celebrating the recent announcement that following a 7 year campaign, Osteoporosis has at last been included in the new G.P contract. G.Ps in England will now have an incentive to pick up early signs of this disease. A far cry from the old days! Hopefully this will lead to a much more positive approach to the treatment and diagnosis of Osteoporosis and save future generations from pain and ignominy that my mother and many thousands of others suffered. Anyway Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you all enjoy the evening. I would like to say a huge thank you to Hal and his sister Lara, Eliza Lumley, Ronald Samm and Stuart Higgins for so generously giving their valuable time to entertain us so royally.

Thank you very much indeed.