Queen Camilla had a a busy day visiting Bath and Lacock. One very important stop for Her Majesty was at the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s new offices in Bath.
Camilla visited several different places in Bath and Lacock, and even had her rescue dogs Beth and Bluebell with her for part of her day. However, it was her visit to the Royal Osteoporosis Society that has a special significance.
Her Majesty’s mother and grandmother were both diagnosed with osteoporosis, with her mother passing away in 1994. The disease affects the skeleton- bones are weakened over time when dying cells are not replaced with new ones. It predominantly affects women.
Queen Camilla has long been involved with supporting osteoporosis research. The ROS was originally known as the National Osteoporosis Society, and Camilla was its Patron from 1997 until 2001. At that point, she became the organisation’s President- a role she still holds today.
The late Queen Elizabeth II granted the society its royal name in 2018.
Camilla gave a touching speech during her visit to the ROS’s newly opened offices in Bath on Wednesday, explaining:
”Because then osteoporosis was seldom discussed, rarely diagnosed, and always attributed to old women. When my mother was diagnosed and grandmother, they said ‘sorry you’re old, nothing we can do about it, we can give you a painkiller and that is it’.
So, I was determined after she died – to see if we could sort of get it on the map, and hopefully, people are talking about it more, drugs are getting better and better. And with the DEXA scanners, you know, we are able to diagnose so much quicker and you know, it does change people’s lives now.”
The Queen continues to spread the message that everyone should be checked for osteoporosis.
”Osteoporosis continues to have a devastating impact on the lives of millions of people and the people they love. But now, thankfully, we know far more about the causes, symptoms and available treatments. I would like to encourage you to “check your risk” and to discover the easy steps that we can all take to improve bone health throughout our lives.”
Her Majesty also visited shops in Lacock during her day of engagements.
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