Princes voice support for THT, and call on their generation to continue the fight against HIV
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have today sent a message of support to HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust to mark its 30th anniversary.
The message, which can be viewed in full at http://www.tht.org.uk/our-charity/About-us/Our-history/A-message-from-the-Princes from Monday 26th November, speaks of the need for a renewed focus among those of their generation on the fight against HIV.
Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We are incredibly honoured to have this message of support from Their Royal Highnesses. Terry Higgins’ death thirty years ago inspired his friends and partner to found our charity to fight HIV. We’ve achieved so much, but there’s so much more to do. It is wonderful to see the princes inspiring the next generation the same way their mother inspired mine.”
Photographer John Swannell has donated a print of the young princes with their mother to Terrence Higgins Trust, which will be included as a lot at its 30th Anniversary Auction at Christie’s on 21st March 2013.
Terry Higgins died of an AIDS-related illness on 4th July 1982 at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. He was 37 years old. That same year, three of his closest friends founded the Terry Higgins Trust, using Terry’s name in the hope of humanising and personalising AIDS in a very public way. From that first meeting in a small flat in East London, Terrence Higgins Trust has grown to become the UK’s largest HIV and sexual health charity, with services across England, Scotland and Wales.