Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall celebrated the International Women's Day by hosting a reception to celebrate the Women of the World Festival (WOW) at Clarence House.

The Duchess of Cornwall hosted a reception at Clarence House to celebrate the Southbank Centre’s Women of the World Festival. This global event celebrates women and girls and looks at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential. HRH is President of the festival. One of the guests at the event today was actress Mona Hammond, who has recently been awarded the WOW Lifetime Achievement Award for her theatre career and for championing black British actors. #IWD2018 #InternationalWomensDay #WOWLDN

A post shared by Clarence House (@clarencehouse) on Mar 8, 2018 at 8:43am PST

According to Clarence House, "The global festival celebrates women and girls, and looks at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential." The Duchess is President of the London Southbank Centre's WOW, and met guests including singer Annie Lennox, entrepreneur Liz Earle, author Kate Mosse, broadcaster Mary Portas and author Kathy Lette at today’s event.

The Duchess began her short speech by welcoming "Ladies, and a smattering of very brave gentlemen" to her London home and praised the Women of the World Festival as "an astonishing creation". To continue she said: "This year, WOW will take place in 53 countries across the world.

The Duchess meets guests at the @WOWtweetUK reception, including @AnnieLennox and actress Mona Hammond.

Mona has recently been awarded the WOW Lifetime Achievement Award for her theatre career and for championing black British actors.

#IWD2018 pic.twitter.com/i4hPndP0EC

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 8, 2018

"It truly is a global festival dedicated to presenting work by women and promoting equality for women and girls."