Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal Honours History of Plastic Surgery ​

The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (www.bapras.org.uk) was delighted to welcome a visit from the charity’s Royal patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on Friday, 6 December, on the last day of BAPRAS Congress 2024. The Princes Royal took over the role of patron in 2022, after the passing of her father the late Duke of Edinburgh, who held it for the last 57 years. 
   

BAPRAS, which represents the majority of reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgeons providing services to patients in the UK today, held its 3-day scientific Congress themed ‘International’ at the International Convention Centre, Wales. Her Royal Highness addressed an audience which included national and international plastic surgeons at all levels of their careers, as well as nurses and allied healthcare professionals, to honour the history of plastic surgery.
    

The Princess Royal visit emphasised the specialty’s critical role within the NHS across multiple areas such as congenital conditions treatment, post-cancer reconstruction, trauma surgery, complex wound management, and recognised BAPRAS’ role as a leader in training and educating plastic surgeons who are committed to the highest standards of care. BAPRAS Congress 2024 brought together over 500 attendees from 20 different countries, fostering collaboration in creating a platform for advancing the speciality. The Congress also highlighted the impact of furthering global knowledge through the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (JPRAS)—the second largest journal of its kind, and overseas education with the British Foundation of International Reconstructive Surgery and Training (BFIRST).
   

The visit reiterated BAPRAS’ mission of training and education in plastic surgery for the benefit of patients, and its role in bringing the international community together to promote innovation in teaching, learning, and research.
   

Consultant plastic surgeon and BAPRAS President Mani Ragbir, spoke on the visit saying:

“We were deeply honoured to receive a visit from our Royal Patron at this year’s Congress. The Princess Royal is regarded as one of the hardest working members of the Royal family, and with her support for the military services we are thrilled she, as His Royal Highness the late Duke of Edinburgh did before her, feels a connection with the work and origins of our profession.”