The Prince of Wales is the latest Royal to back the York-based campaign to build a memorial to the women of World War Two.

Prince Charles has sent a donation to the appeal fund from his Prince of Wales Charitable Trust.

The campaign already has the Princess Royal as its vice-patron and the Queen has agreed to unveil the memorial if her diary allows.

The Queen was a member of the ATS during the war.

Major David Robertson, who is co-ordinating the campaign from Imphal Barracks, York, said he was delighted at the latest indication of support.

He said the donation had been received by the campaign's patron, Betty Boothroyd, the Speaker of the House of Commons.

"The letter said he was supporting what he considered a worthwhile cause and the efforts of his mother and grandmother during the war could well have had an effect on what he did," he said.

A spokeswoman for Prince Charles said the trust made several hundred donations a year.

She said its funds came from royalties from sales of the Prince's books and watercolour paintings and from the sale of organic food produce from the Duchy Originals range.

The news comes as the date for a decision on whether the campaign has secured a site for the memorial in Trafalgar Square draws closer.

Sir John Mortimer is due to make his recommendations to culture secretary Chris Smith shortly after the elections for the Mayor of London, and the new mayor will have the final say.

All the candidates have said they support the campaign and Ken Livingstone and Frank Dobson have said they would support the Trafalgar Square site.

Major Robertson said he had now received a personal letter from Mr Livingstone.

"He said he was writing to Sir John Mortimer in support of the charity to bring his support to bear on it as a candidate for London Mayor," said Major Robertson.

The campaign has now raised £81,000 towards its £100,000 target and the next judging round of proposed sculpture designs takes place in London at the beginning of next month.

The aim is to build a memorial to all the women who worked in any way during the Second World War, whether in the three forces or in civilian jobs or at home looking after children.

There will be a street collection in aid of the memorial between 9am and 5pm on May 20 in the Coppergate Centre, York. There will also be music from the York Railway Institute Band.

janet.hewison@ycp.co.uk

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