Lady Jadranka Njerš Beresford-Peirse Awarded MBE by King Charles III for Contributions to UK-Croatia Relations and Cultural Heritage Preservation

Lady Jadranka Njerš Beresford-Peirse Awarded MBE by King Charles III for Contributions to UK-Croatia Relations and Cultural Heritage Preservation


King Charles III has awarded Lady Jadranka Njerš Beresford-Peirse, a citizen of both Croatia and the United Kingdom, the title of MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her over 30 years of dedication and work in fostering relations between the UK and Croatia, philanthropy, and the preservation of Croatia’s cultural heritage. The award to Lady Beresford-Peirse was announced as part of the King’s Birthday Honours.

Lady Beresford-Peirse was born in Croatia but has spent much of her life in London. Along with her husband, Sir Henry Grant de la Poer Beresford-Peirse, she founded the International Trust for Croatian Monuments in 1991 in response to the extensive war damage to Croatian landmarks. Over the past 33 years, the Trust has raised funds and organized professional exchanges to restore and protect Croatian historical monuments and cultural heritage threatened by war, natural disasters, neglect, or lack of resources. This effort has significantly contributed to the preservation of Croatian landmarks and the relationship between the UK and Croatia, reports HRT.

Lady Beresford-Peirse has tirelessly raised awareness within the international community about the richness of Croatia’s historical and cultural heritage, gathering funds for the restoration and conservation of sites in Croatia. Her Trust’s projects include supporting the restoration of Eltz Castle in Vukovar, repairing the Osijek Co-Cathedral, fixing the roof of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival Palace, and aiding the Franciscan Monastery and Church of St. Blaise in Dubrovnik. Through the Trust, she also provided emergency aid to libraries and other cultural institutions in Zagreb and Petrinja following the devastating earthquakes in 2020.

The International Trust for Croatian Monuments has gained significant trust in the UK, with its projects receiving support from charitable organizations like The Prince of Wales’ Charities Foundation. During his visit to Osijek in 2016, King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales) met with the masters of stained glass restoration and witnessed firsthand the immense contributions of Lady Beresford-Peirse’s work.

British Ambassador to Croatia, Simon Thomas, personally congratulated Lady Beresford-Peirse on the well-deserved honor: – We are proud that Lady Jadranka’s efforts and excellent work in connecting the best in culture and community work between the UK and Croatia have received this high recognition – said Ambassador Thomas.





Read More