This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33002176
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Queen opens Women's Institute centenary annual meeting | Queen opens Women's Institute centenary annual meeting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Queen has opened the centenary annual meeting of the Women's Institute (WI) at the Royal Albert Hall in London. | The Queen has opened the centenary annual meeting of the Women's Institute (WI) at the Royal Albert Hall in London. |
| The monarch, who became a WI member in 1943 and attended the event with the Princess Royal and Countess of Wessex, received its commemorative baton. | The monarch, who became a WI member in 1943 and attended the event with the Princess Royal and Countess of Wessex, received its commemorative baton. |
| She also cut a celebration cake. | |
| The baton has been travelling to some of the WI's 6,600 branches across 69 federations in England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. | The baton has been travelling to some of the WI's 6,600 branches across 69 federations in England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. |
| Declaring the meeting open, the Queen congratulated members on their "significant occasion". | Declaring the meeting open, the Queen congratulated members on their "significant occasion". |
| "Over the past 100 years the Women's Institute has continued to grow and evolve with its members to stay relevant and forward-thinking," she said. | "Over the past 100 years the Women's Institute has continued to grow and evolve with its members to stay relevant and forward-thinking," she said. |
| "In 2015 the Women's Institute continues to demonstrate it can make a real difference to the lives of women of all ages and backgrounds" | "In 2015 the Women's Institute continues to demonstrate it can make a real difference to the lives of women of all ages and backgrounds" |
| The Queen, who over the years has attended meetings near her Sandringham estate in Norfolk, will present the Lady Denman Cup to the winner of the WI's creative writing competition. | The Queen, who over the years has attended meetings near her Sandringham estate in Norfolk, will present the Lady Denman Cup to the winner of the WI's creative writing competition. |
| The WI's centenary baton has been designed to celebrate the friendship and community between the organisation's 212,000 members. | The WI's centenary baton has been designed to celebrate the friendship and community between the organisation's 212,000 members. |
| Footage of its journey around the UK will be shown at the Royal Albert Hall and the event is due to link live to members in Anglesey, where the first Women's Institute was formed. | Footage of its journey around the UK will be shown at the Royal Albert Hall and the event is due to link live to members in Anglesey, where the first Women's Institute was formed. |
| Inspired by an idea from Canada, the first WI was founded in the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll - famous for having Britain's longest place name - on 16 September 1915. | Inspired by an idea from Canada, the first WI was founded in the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll - famous for having Britain's longest place name - on 16 September 1915. |
| The WI was set up during World War One to rejuvenate rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in food production amid German naval blockades. | The WI was set up during World War One to rejuvenate rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in food production amid German naval blockades. |
| Its actions during World War Two, when WI members helped preserve nearly 12m lb (5.4m kg) of fruit, contributed to its long-held association with making jam. | Its actions during World War Two, when WI members helped preserve nearly 12m lb (5.4m kg) of fruit, contributed to its long-held association with making jam. |
| But the WI says its aims have broadened and it is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK. | But the WI says its aims have broadened and it is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK. |
| On Tuesday, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Cornwall hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the institution's centenary. | On Tuesday, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Cornwall hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the institution's centenary. |
| They met some of the WI's most famous members - the Calendar Girls - whose semi-nude appearance in a fundraising calendar in 1999 was immortalised in the hit movie starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. To date they have raised more than £3m for research into leukaemia and lymphoma. | They met some of the WI's most famous members - the Calendar Girls - whose semi-nude appearance in a fundraising calendar in 1999 was immortalised in the hit movie starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. To date they have raised more than £3m for research into leukaemia and lymphoma. |
| Are you a Women's Institute member? What are your stories and memories of the WI? Do members of your family also belong to the WI? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a Women's Institute member? What are your stories and memories of the WI? Do members of your family also belong to the WI? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| If you're happy to speak with a BBC journalist please give a telephone number so we can call you. | If you're happy to speak with a BBC journalist please give a telephone number so we can call you. |
| You can also contact us on WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971 | You can also contact us on WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971 |
| Read the terms and conditions. | Read the terms and conditions. |