Remarks by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at a Women of the World (WOW) event at the Manara Arts and Culture Cafe, Jordan

Can I just say, Jude, before you sit down, you are my inspiration.

WOW wouldn’t have happened without this incredible lady, so we have a lot to be thankful for.  As she said, I think Jordan would be a perfect place to have our first WOW in the Middle East. I can see there are so many inspirational women here, doing so many things, and they have done it by themselves and a lot of others are doing the same.

You have got the lady plumber over there, the first lady plumber, you have got the army, you have got so many of you doing so many incredible things that I think here would be the perfect place to start a WOW.  And, as Jude said, if any of you were interested in getting in touch with her, I feel you would do a really good job here.

I had written down a speech, but I seem to have gone a bit off piste. But I’d just like to say, I heard a quote - some wise words - from Queen Rania that are particularly apt for this occasion. Her Majesty once said, “When a woman succeeds, she reaches out to those around her and pulls them up with her. That is why if you empower a woman, you empower a whole society”. The collective experience of the women in this room proves the truth of these words. I very much hope that this afternoon might be the first step for all of you and for WOW to do some serious reaching out and pulling up across our two countries- and that we will have many more opportunities to share our beliefs, celebrate each other’s achievements and inspire one another to carry on… 

And so, as you say in your language: Shukran, thank you very much.