Celebrating 40 years of progress with a special anniversary reception

This year, the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) is celebrating four decades of improving bone health and supporting people affected by osteoporosis, marking a significant milestone in the charity’s history with a special anniversary reception attended by the charity’s President, HM The Queen.

The event, held at Clarence House, recognised the people, partnerships and achievements that have shaped the charity’s journey since its founding and highlighted the impact of its work in transforming awareness, support and treatment for osteoporosis across the UK.

Founded in Somerset in 1986 by Professor Allan Dixon and Linda Edwards, the charity was established at a time when osteoporosis was widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed and rarely discussed. Their vision was to raise awareness of the condition and provide support for those living with its effects.

Over the past 40 years, the charity has grown into the UK’s leading national organisation dedicated to bone health. One of its earliest milestones came in 1992 with the launch of a specialist nurse Helpline. Originally staffed by just two nurses responding to enquiries by letter, the service now supports around 13,000 people every year.

The Queen first became involved with the charity in 1994 following the death of her mother from osteoporosis. Her longstanding commitment to the cause helped elevate osteoporosis as a major public health issue and led to the creation of the Duchess of Cornwall’s Award in 2009, now known as The Queen’s Award for Osteoporosis. Her Majesty became President of the charity in 2001 and remains a passionate advocate for improving bone health.

The charity received another landmark honour in 2019 when Queen Elizabeth II approved its Royal title, officially relaunching it as the Royal Osteoporosis Society.

Today, the ROS continues to drive change through national campaigning, policy influence, and public awareness initiatives.

During the anniversary reception, The Queen delivered a speech celebrating the charity’s achievements before cutting a commemorative cake. She also presented the 2026 Queen’s Award for Osteoporosis.

The Queen’s Award recognises an individual for their outstanding contribution to the field of osteoporosis. This is a prestigious award and can be bestowed upon professionals and volunteers or any other individual who meets the criteria. This year, the award was presented to Ivor Braka.

The 2026 recipient of The Queen’s Award: Ivor Braka - In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Philanthropy

Ivor Braka has shown exceptional, long-standing commitment to the Royal Osteoporosis Society, supporting its mission through over two decades of philanthropy, advocacy and event hosting. His prestigious receptions - most recently raising over £1 million in 2025 - have strengthened donor relationships, expanded awareness, and generated over £1.5 million in total, while he personally underwrites all costs to maximise impact.

Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society said:

“Forty years ago, people living with osteoporosis had almost nowhere to turn.

"Today, working through researchers, clinicians and supporters, we’re poised to transform the nation's bone health - from pioneering Fracture Liaison Services now used in more than 60 countries to helping hundreds of thousands of people understand their risk.

"We’re deeply honoured that Her Majesty has joined us to celebrate that legacy and shares our determination to build on it”.