Hugh and Alex Addison speaking with His Majesty The King at a reception at Buckingham Palace
RABI was honoured to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace on 21 April, hosted by Their Majesties The King and Queen to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The event brought together organisations connected to Queen Elizabeth II’s patronages, recognising her longstanding commitment to charities and community causes across the UK. Members of the Royal Family in attendance included The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra and The Duke of Kent.
With His Majesty The King serving as RABI’s Patron, the reception provided an opportunity to represent farming people and reflect on the continued importance of practical, professional support across the sector.
Invitations were shared with colleagues and supporters who have made a significant contribution to RABI’s work. Among those attending were Hugh and Alex Addison, the Cumbrian siblings behind The Borderline Challenge, who raised £20,000 for RABI through an endurance fundraising effort spanning Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
Their challenge combined cycling, running and swimming across demanding terrain, raising both funds and awareness of mental health in farming. Building on this work, Hugh and Alex hosted a documentary screening at Rheged Cinema in Cumbria earlier this year, bringing together more than 200 attendees alongside podcaster Rebecca Wilson to continue important conversations around wellbeing in the farming community.
RABI is grateful to all those who represented the charity at this significant occasion, and to supporters like Hugh and Alex whose commitment helps strengthen awareness, engagement and access to support for farming people across England and Wales.
