Linnean Society Community Welcomes the Princess Royal

Attending the President’s Lecture on 10 September with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Her Royal Highness’s visit highlighted the importance of the Linnean Society in bringing together people with a broad range of expertise. Her Royal Highness has a long association with the Society, having been made an Honorary Fellow at her last visit in 2007.

The evening began with a fascinating talk from our President, Dr Mark Watson, on the importance of taxonomy, and particularly his own work on World Flora Online (WFO) which brings together vital information using a global consensus classification —the WFO Plant List—supported by over a thousand experts from the international taxonomic community.

Mark explained how WFO seeks to democratise knowledge and share resources more equitably, thereby enabling it to be used by scientists, conservationists and communities for effective plant conservation.

This was followed by remarks from The Princess.

Her Royal Highness and Sir Tim were then shown around the Society’s new exhibition, Herbarium, Plants in a New Light, by Mark, and by Gail Cardew, the Society’s CEO. The exhibition showcases beautiful photographs by Swedish artist Lena Granefelt, featured next to the original herbarium specimens from Carl Linnaeus' collection of pressed plants.

The Royal Party also met a range of people who have contributed to the Society in different ways, including our Trustees, Fellows, journal editors, curators, education programme participants, supporters and partners. Among the attendees were newly welcomed Fellows, who had taken part in a ceremony earlier in the day.

Commenting on the evening, Linnean Society CEO Professor Gail Cardew said: 

“It was a delight to welcome the Princess Royal to the Society and to introduce her to some of the Linnean Society community. Having such a wide range of people who have contributed to the Society in different ways in a room together was very special, and we are indebted not just to them, but our global community of Fellows, supporters and partners.

"We look forward to working with Her Royal Highness more as our Patron, to help create a world where nature is understood, valued and protected.”