Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva Made a Dame of the Royal Order of Francis I

Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva has joined a long list of distinguished women by becoming a Dame of the Royal Order of Francis I. She was presented with the prestigious award by Prince Charles and Princess Camilla de Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

The Royal Order of Francis I recognizes those who have made an outstanding contribution in the fields of humanitarian causes, public life, science, the arts, agriculture, and commerce. The roots of the Order go back to the 1800s. Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and her husband Timur Tillyaev, fall into this category thanks to their work through various charities and trusts.

The Work of Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev

For over fifteen years Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of children in need. In keeping with the Orders remit of helping cross cooperation among religions, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva’s Karimov Foundation has a remit of promoting Uzbek culture internationally.

To help people in need Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev have started several charities and foundations. This includes:

•            The You Are Not Alone Foundation – The bulk of the charity work is to help orphaned, and low-income families have better lives. A strong emphasis is placed on providing medical care, and thanks to partnerships scores of children have received life-saving surgeries. The charity has renovated Mercy Homes (Orphanages) throughout Uzbekistan, and it has invested in education helping to raise their aspirations.

•            The Karimov Foundation - The Karimov Foundation started in 2016 and partnered with UNESCO to bring better education, science, and culture to the people of Uzbekistan. This takes the form of scholarships for young adults to go into higher education which is funded by Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva personally. The scholarships cover all living expenses and fund university education in some of the top universities in Europe.

Both Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev have a strong belief that through the sharing of cultures breaks down barriers and strengthens cooperation.

In 2016 Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva has started The Harmonist, a maison de parfum. The brand has expanded rapidly and is now found on both sides of the Atlantic. The perfume is developed using the Feng Shui ethos of harmony and balance.

This has led to the development of several artistic projects designed to start the conversation around water conservation. The Droplet, a tear-shaped sculpture, has recently gone on tour and is exhibited at various locations around the world.  

Both Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva and Timur Tillyaev continue to work through supporting children, promoting education and culture, and through efforts to fight climate change. 

Among the Order’s prominent knights and dames are former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the Governor of Makkah Province Prince Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, former President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and Princess Benedikte of Denmark.