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CHARLOTTE
CHURCH and Dame Shirley Bassey joined a host of
high-flying women for a "girl power" lunch with
the Queen yesterday.
The historic all-female event was the first of its kind to
be held at Buckingham Palace.
Celebrities
including Cherie Booth, JK Rowling, Kate Moss and former
model Heather Mills McCartney mingled with writers,
academics and sports stars to mark the achievements of
women.
Janet
Street-Porter, currently learning Welsh in the S4C programme
Cariad@ Iaith, was given special dispensation to leave the
house for the day to attend the party.
The
Queen was accompanied by the Princess Royal, the Duchess of
Gloucester and the Countess of Wessex for the lunch date.
About 180 women were invited to the reception to pay tribute
to the success of women, often in the face of adversity.
Cherie
Booth QC described the day as "fantastic".
"I hope it's going to be an annual event," she
said. There are so many fantastic people here. I think it's
very important we celebrate women's achievements. The leader
of the country is a woman - the Queen."
Ms Booth spoke of her delight that the guest list did not
merely describe her as the Prime Minister's wife, but
highlighted instead her success in employment and
discrimination law.
"The Palace called me Cherie Booth QC, which I was
thrilled about."
Charlotte,
believed to be the youngest person invited, said, "I
feel so privileged to be here. I don't think I'm worthy when
all I do is sing.
"The person I want to meet is JK Rowling, but I've been
too nervous to approach her."
Church was later spotted deep in conversation with the
acclaimed author of the Harry Potter novels.
Rowling,
who went to school in Chepstow, said after meeting the Queen
that the monarch had divulged her interest in the magical
tale. "She was appreciative of Harry," she said.
The
lunch, which followed International Women's Day on March 8,
comes after a series of royal visits across London yesterday
morning.
As
part of a women theme day, the Queen and the Princess Royal
visited a building site to meet female trainee carpenters
and plumbers.
Dame
Shirley declared that the day had been long overdue.
"I'm glad Her Majesty has done this," she said.
"Men have had it their own way for too long."
The singer said the female members of the Royal Family
should be recognised for the work that they do.
"They have achieved so I think they should be allowed
some slack and people should get off their backs." |
