The Queen has been seen for the first time since Meghan and Prince Harry's controversial Oprah Winfrey interview in a video chat.
The Monarch joined daughter-in-law Camilla to speak to volunteers of the Royal Voluntary Service and NHS Volunteer Responders who have given up their time during the pandemic.
It's the first time Her Majesty, 94, has been seen since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell chat was broadcast last week.
In it, the former Hollywood actress Meghan alleged an unnamed senior royal had raised concerns about then-unborn Archie's skin colour.
And she also claimed the Firm prevented her from seeking support after feeling suicidal.
The RVS has been at the forefront of mobilising volunteers since the outbreak of Covid-19, recruiting almost one million people since this time last year.
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Alongside GoodSAM, it was commissioned by NHS England to deliver the health service's Volunteer Responders scheme to support those in need, with more than 1.6 million tasks completed to date.
These included ‘Check in and Chat’ calls, delivering prescriptions and food shopping for those unable to leave their homes.
The scheme has also recently been extended to support the vaccination rollout.
The monarch and Duchess of Cornwall, who are Patron and President of the RVS respectively, heard from numerous volunteers about their experiences.
They then paid tribute to everyone across the UK who has given up their time to support their communities.
Praising the work of the 12.7 million people in the country who have stepped forward to volunteer since last March, HM said: “I think it’s wonderful work. Thank you to everybody - and all the others too who have been volunteering. It has been a great help.”
Camilla added: “Thank you all very much for all you’ve done throughout the year, throughout the pandemic. We couldn’t have done without you.”
The royal pair were hosted on the video call by RVS chief executive Catherine Johnstone CBE, who shared her pride at how Britain has stepped forward to volunteer during these unprecedented times.
She then presented four volunteers with the RVS.
Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness were introduced ex-police officer to Tracy Clarke, from Gateshead, who volunteers with the RVS’s Gateshead Home Library Service for the past three years.
While Sue Cadwallader, from Northumberland, told the Royal guests how she got into volunteering through her son, Sam, who already lent his time to their local RVS centre.
NHS Volunteer Responder Anderson Akponeware, from Middlesbrough, explained how he juggles supporting his community whilst studying for his PhD and home-schooling.
“When the call was made by the NHS and the RVS to support the vulnerable and those who were shielding, I didn’t think twice before signing up - so for close to a year now I’ve been a Check in and Chat volunteer,” he said.
"People have been living in their own small bubbles, and I wouldn’t have known how isolated those small bubbles could be until I took on this role."
At the end of the call, Simon Holmes, an NHS Volunteer Responder from Stockton-On-Tees, shared how accessing mental health services himself had encouraged him to sign-up to the RVS.
“It was obviously last year when the pandemic hit when I saw the reach out for volunteers, and I decided I wanted to do something – if I could give back just in a little way,” he said.
“The whole experience is very humbling.”
Camilla is just one member of the Firm to have helped the Responders with their 'Check in and Chat' calls, alongside The Duchess of Cambridge, The Countess of Wessex and The Duchess of Gloucester.
She previously befriended 86-year-old Doris Winfield via the scheme, accepting her invitation to visit the Royal Voluntary Service Lunch Club in Rickmansworth last year.
Ahead of the call this week, the duchess recalled how she had enjoyed "lots of happy conversations" with Doris, who sadly passed away earlier this year.
