Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Queen Silvia has travelled to New York to receive the Global Humanitarian Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
The Ellis Island Honors Society recognises global leaders who are committed to helping those less fortunate, and Queen Silvia was chosen as an honoree this year for “her lifelong commitment to humanitarian causes, in particular her work to protect vulnerable children…her leadership in promoting dementia care…and her commitment to empowering young people and supporting people with disabilities worldwide,” according to the Society’s official website.
Queen Silvia travelled to the United States with her youngest daughter, Princess Madeleine, who shared photos of the award ceremony and wrote on Instagram, “For all the work my mother has done globally with Childhood, Mentor and Silviahemmet – this was a very well deserved moment!”
In a speech at the award ceremony, Queen Silvia said that the history of Ellis Island and what it represents has also woven its way into her life’s work, telling the audience that the young immigrants who arrived hand-in-hand with their parents in search of a better life had a “spirit of courage and hope continues to inspire me.”
Queen Silvia continued: “Bringing hope to the vulnerable is a mission I deeply share with the Ellis Island Honor Society. This award is not mine alone. It reflects the work of many…”
She touched upon her work with the World Childhood Foundation, Mentor International, and Silviahemmet, and said, “I believe that when we come together with courage and compassion, real and lasting change is possible. Whether we are protecting the rights of children or supporting those living with dementia, each of us has a role to play.”
She ended her speech with a call to action: “Let us act boldly guided by science, by ethics, and by the shared humanity that connects us all.”