Her Imperial Highness Princess Akishino of Japan, and Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of The Netherlands will both attend the 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health taking place in The Hague, The Netherlands, from 24 – 27 October.
The royal guests will first attend the Union President’s Centennial Dinner to be held this year in the Ridderzaal, Hall of Knights, in The Hague.
In this same place, 86 years ago, Princess Margriet’s great-grandmother, Her Majesty Emma, mother of Queen Wilhelmina, and His Royal Highness Prince Hendrick of The Netherlands attended the opening of the 8th Union World Conference.
On Wednesday 24 October the royal guests will attend the opening ceremony of the 49th Union World Conference, at which Princess Margriet will speak as patron of the conference’s local host, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation.
HIH Princess Akishino will attend numerous scientific sessions throughout the conference. As Patron of the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA), she will present the prestigious Princess Chichibu Memorial TB Global Award. The award recognises outstanding contributions to global tuberculosis (TB) control and is presented annually by JATA, a heritage member of The Union.
At The Union General Assembly, Union members will see HIH Princess Akishino awarded with the title of Honorary Member of The Union, in recognition of her active participation in The Union's mission and the fulfilment of its goals, and her lifelong commitment to ending TB.
José Luis Castro, Executive Director of The Union, said: “It is a huge honour that HIH Princess Akishino and HRH Princess Margriet will attend our Union World Conference. Both play crucial roles as leaders in our journey to end TB, leaders that we need more than ever with TB killing an estimated 1.6 million people in 2017. Their influence and support will help to drive others to support meaningful change to end TB.”