Queen Camilla surprised two Pride of Britain winners with their awards, bringing domestic violence campaigners Diana Parkes and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton to tears.
Diana’s daughter, Joanna Simpson, was brutally murdered by her ex-husband, Robert Brown, while their children were hiding in the playroom in 2010.
After Joanna’s death, Diana and her daughter’s best friend Hetti co-founded a foundation to support children affected by domestic violence.
The duo, who were appointed CBE in the New Year Honors List, collected their Pride of Britain Special Recognition Award during the official ceremony which was televised on ITV1 this evening.
His meeting with the King’s wife was also revealed for viewers at home, and Hetti was thrilled to see the Queen and receive the award.
Queen Camilla surprised two Pride of Britain winners with their awards, bringing domestic violence campaigners Diana Parkes and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton to tears.
The duo, who were appointed CBE in the New Year Honors List, collected their Pride of Britain Special Recognition Award during the official ceremony which was televised on ITV1 this evening.
The Pride of Britain team convinced Diana and Hetti that they had been invited to Clarence House earlier this month to film a documentary.
“I’m afraid we betrayed you a little by bringing you here,” the 77-year-old royal said, after surprising the couple with her appearance.
He then handed Diana an envelope with a letter that said: “Diana and Hetti, you have won a Pride of Britain award.”
Hetti fought back tears as Camilla congratulated them for “everything you have done for violence against women,” adding: “No one deserves it more than you two.”
Visibly moved, Diana thanked Camilla for the honour, before adding: “Jo at least brought Hetti and I together.”
Speaking to the camera, Diana expressed her delight at Queen Camilla’s kind gesture, adding: “I had never imagined anything like this.”
The surprise will be part of a special documentary about Camilla, titled Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, which will air on ITV1 on November 11.
On stage at the Pride of Britain Awards, Diana revealed she met Queen Camilla at a SaveLives meeting, where she learned she was the reason the royal became involved with the domestic abuse charity. “I was speechless,” added Diana, 85.
His meeting with the King’s wife was also revealed for viewers at home, and Hetti was thrilled to see the Queen and receive the award.
The Pride of Britain team convinced Diana and Hetti that they had been invited to Clarence House earlier this month to film a documentary.
“I’m afraid we betrayed you a little by bringing you here,” the 77-year-old royal said, after surprising the couple with her appearance.
she too dedicated the Special Recognition Award to his daughter Joannaadding ‘it’s all for Jo’.
“Actually, it’s Jo who should receive the Pride of Britain – in fact, it’s all for Jo,” Diana said.
She co-founded the Joanna Simpson Foundation after former British Airways captain Robert Brown killed the 46-year-old just a week before their divorce was finalized in 2010.
The former pilot killed the millionaire at his home in Ascot, Berkshire, within earshot of his two children, who were nine and ten years old at the time.
Brown buried Joanna’s body in a pre-dug grave in Windsor Great Park before confessing to police the following day. He was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter through diminished responsibility.
It meant the killer was due to be released in 2023 after serving only half of his 26-year prison sentence.
But following a campaign backed by the Mail, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk intervened to block the automatic release and referred the case to the Parole Board.
The Pride of Britain Awards aired tonight, with TV’s biggest and brightest stars walking the red carpet in London.
Hetti fought back tears as Camilla congratulated them for “everything you have done for violence against women,” adding: “No one deserves it more than you two.”
Visibly moved, Diana thanked Camilla for the honour, before adding: “Jo at least brought Hetti and I together.”
Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo once again hosted the ceremony for its 25th edition, with celebrities including Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid, Kate Garraway and Ranvir Singh in attendance.
Other stars at the event included This Morning’s Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, and Love Island alum Zara McDermott.
Zara’s boyfriend Sam Thompson joined Strictly Come Dancing star Pete Wicks for red carpet hosting duties.
Since 1999, the annual Pride of Britain Ceremony has honored the notable achievements of people from all walks of life in the United Kingdom.
A panel of judges selects the winners from a shortlist after receiving tens of thousands of nominations from the British public.
Ahead of the filmed ceremony on Monday, King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to the nation’s unsung heroes.
While the King called them “the best” of us, Sir Keir added: “They embody everything that is good about Britain.”
King Charles’ words were part of a letter addressed to King’s Trust Young Achiever winner Molly Leonard, whose grandmother shed tears of pride as she read it to her.
Joanna Simpson, pictured. Diana’s daughter, Joanna Simpson, was brutally murdered by her ex-husband, Robert Brown, while their children were hiding in the playroom in 2010.
As well as praising Molly, he wrote: ‘On this 25th anniversary of the Pride of Britain Awards, I send my warmest admiration to all of this year’s winners. Each of you represents the best of our society.
The Prime Minister told the winners: “Britain is proud of you.”
‘For a quarter of a century, the Pride of Britain Awards have celebrated people who embody all that is good about Britain.
‘These are people from all walks of life, but they all have one thing in common. They are heroes.
“They may not be the caped superheroes we normally think of; in fact, they look like the rest of us.
But they have something that makes them very special. Courage, determination, generosity, empathy and enormous spirit.
‘They have the power to touch our hearts, to give us hope, to make us feel proud. They are a testament to the incredible things people can achieve even in the face of hardship.’