Prince William Presents Award to Melinda Gates for Humanitarian Work

In recognition of her humanitarian work, Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, presented philanthropist Melinda Gates with an award at the Royal United Services Institute and Banqueting House in Whitehall, central London.

Melinda, the co-founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, is the wife of Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates. She was awarded the 2014 Chatham House Prize in central London.

"Civil society, whether in the form of business, academic institutions, NGOs or philanthropic organizations, play a critical role in shaping international relations and in working for a fairer and more peaceful and healthier world. No one can provide us with a better example of the impact such organisations can have, when led with vision, commitment and unstinting generosity than this year's Chatham House Prize winner, Melinda Gates," Prince William said at the award ceremony, GMA News reports.

Praising the philanthropist's vision, Prince William further said that the Gates foundation was set up by the Gates to change the world. Melina has transformed the "lives of women, the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged in Africa and elsewhere. What a wonderful example it is to others, and how fitting it is to add Melinda Gates' name to the Chatham House Prize list".

Chatham House director Dr. Robin Niblett introduced the Duke of Cambridge and Melinda Gates to others including former Prime Minister Sir John Major and Lord (Paddy) Ashdown, both Presidents of the Chatham House, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and ex-Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Liam Donaldson.

Melinda Gates' parents, Ray and Elaine French, and her best friend from her school days, Mary Lehman, were also present at the event.

While accepting the award Melinda said that she was honoured to receive the award, mostly because it was indirectly from the Queen herself. "This award is especially meaningful to me because of what Chatham House represents. What we desperately need but somewhat lack in the world of global development is a public that not only cares deeply about these issues but gets involved and becomes deeply knowledgeable about the issues," Melinda Gates said, Daily Mail reports.