A Royal Legacy: Queen Naa I’s Inspiring Visit to Sedbergh School
by Dr Philip Hoskin,
On Friday 4th October, Sedbergh School had the honour and pleasure of hosting Her Royal Majesty Queen Naa Tsotsoo Soyoo I and Princess Naa Dedei I from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
Previous royal visits to Sedbergh School have included:
- Â 1745 (December) Bonnie Prince Charlie
- Â 1917 (May) King George Vth and Queen Mary.
- Â 1991 (May) Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
- Â 2017 (April) King Charles (then Prince Charles)
Apart from ruling a kingdom, Queen Naa I is the Matron of the United Nations Commission for Women and Children Affairs and also a Global Ambassador for the Global Visionary Women Network.
It was a typically cold evening in Sedbergh and Queen Naa I and Princess Naa Dedei I brought much colour and warmth to the Thornley Studio. This took the form of traditional and beautifully embroidered Kente cloth which Arachne would have been proud of. And, campfire stories. These same good story morals provided an integral part of Queen Naa I’s confinement period as she was readied to assume her role as Queen of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Throughout this fascinating lecture, African heritage and ancient Greek mythology were detailed. Queen Naa I also spoke about how individual effort helps others to rebuild their lives. In addition, how education is one of the most important things in life. Queen Naa I has dedicated her time, experience and financial position to ensuring that those who are underprivileged, benefit from knowledge. Kindness is a trait that we admire and place considerable emphasis upon at Sedbergh.
I am positive that Queen Naa I’s visit will be the start of a close friendship between Sedbergh School and Ghana.