Her Royal Highness, the charity’s Royal Patron, was in attendance to support the crucial work that The Eric Liddell Community does for those living with dementia and their carers.
On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, The Eric Liddell Community, the Edinburgh-based care charity founded in memory of sporting legend Eric Liddell, was honoured to welcome its Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, to its annual Dinner for Dementia.
Hosted at The Caledonian Edinburgh, the evening provided an opportunity for meaningful conversation around the growing need for community based dementia care and highlighted the great work that The Eric Liddell Community plays in supporting individuals and families across Edinburgh.
The Eric Liddell Community is widely recognised for its vital dementia care services, offering practical day support, social programmes and much needed respite that help enhance wellbeing and reduce isolation. Its community hub in Morningside now welcomes more than 7,000 people each month, serving as a crucial lifeline for families navigating the emotional and physical and financial pressures of long term caring responsibilities.
The evening featured an expert keynote speech from Dr Claire Durrant, Race Against Dementia Dyson Fellow, Emerging Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute and Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, the University of Edinburgh. Dr Durrant provided expert insight into current global dementia research and emphasised the critical importance of pairing scientific innovation with compassionate, community led care.
Dr Claire Durrant, expert keynote speaker at the event, highlighted the importance of community-led care:
“Dementia is one of the greatest health and social challenges of our time and it is vital that scientific research and community based support work hand in hand. Events like the Dinner for Dementia create an important space for people to share experiences and raise awareness of the impact of dementia. I was delighted to be part of an evening that brings the community together.”
The Eric Liddell Community’s Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, had the opportunity to meet the charity’s dedicated staff, volunteers, carers, and those living with dementia who benefit so greatly from the charity’s services during her visit in April 2025.
The charity demonstrates the importance of having a welcoming place within the community, where one is greeted with kindness, a friendly smile, and genuine warmth, and how this can make an immeasurable difference to the lives of those who visit The Eric Liddell Community. Places like this are at the heart of our communities.
John MacMillan MBE, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, added:
“We were deeply honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness to this year’s Dinner for Dementia. Her presence reinforced not only the significance of our work but the urgency of the growing dementia challenge in Scotland. The evening highlighted the power of collaboration and the vital difference that community led support can make to thousands of families every year. We were also delighted to have Dr Durrant speaking at the event. Dr Durrant’s input provided a unique insight into her world renowned research linked to finding a cure for dementia.”
