Welsh MU Provincial President meets royal patron, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace

At the start of the year, Mothers' Union was honoured to announce the royal patronage of HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. We were privileged to be invited to May’s garden party at Buckingham Palace, which recognised the contributions of individuals and organisations to their communities.

Welsh Provincial President Sue Rivers represented Mothers' Union at the event and had the opportunity to spend time with HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. During their conversation, Sue expressed the joy and appreciation of our members regarding the Duchess’s new role as the organisation's patron. She also discussed her work overseeing the AFIA (Away From It All) initiative and leading the development of a Domestic Abuse campaign in Wales.

Of the meeting, Sue said, “It was a delight to meet HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. She showed great interest in my work as a member and my long-standing commitment to the organisation. My husband, who attended with me, wore his Mothers' Union badge, and the Duchess was pleasantly surprised to learn that men can be members too! My leadership has always been driven by a deep passion for the Mothers’ Union’s mission, and it was wonderful to represent the organisation among so many other deserving charities and community workers."

Sue Rivers has dedicated 45 years of service to Mothers' Union, fulfilling various leadership roles. Her tenure has been underpinned by a strong commitment to faith, outreach, and advocacy. She has overseen key initiatives, such as the Away From It All (AFIA) Caravan, faith events, and outreach projects. Sue established the Provincial Domestic Abuse Group and partnered with Restored-UK, Welsh Women’s Aid, and the Church in Wales Safeguarding Team. She has also led significant awareness initiatives, including the Behind Closed Doors exhibition, a highly successful conference, and the development of a church guide to addressing domestic abuse, all aimed at raising awareness of Domestic Abuse and Gender-Based Violence.