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Using our collective expertise and convening power to inspire action on important issues facing women and girls and society as a whole
Coming together to drive long-term systemic change
Bringing Dames together
The Dames Commander Society is a registered UK-based charity open to all the extraordinary women who have been awarded a Damehood.
Our members are deep experts in business, science, education, sports, culture, the creative industries, the arts, science, health and social care, the armed forces, law and order, politics, charity and NGOs – drawn from across the UK and beyond.
We are a non-political community, who come together to use our combined expertise and energy to make a positive difference.
Dame Sheila Hancock reading Elizabeth I’s speech to the troops at Tilbury, 9 August 1588, at The Dames Commander Society inaugural dinner, 17 March 2026
My loving people,
We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery. But I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people.
Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.
I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm: to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.
I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.
I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder
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