Emilia Clarke Turns Personal Survival Into Purpose — And Earns a Royal Honor Alongside Her Mother

On February 21, 2024, Windsor Castle became the stage for a historic moment — and not in Westeros. Emilia Clarke, best known as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, and her mother, Jenny Clarke, were both made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs) by Prince William. The joint honor recognized their transformative work in brain injury recovery through their charity, SameYou — and marked the first time a mother-daughter duo received the same award in the same New Year Honours list.

For Emilia, now 37, the moment was deeply personal. She has survived two life-threatening brain haemorrhages — the first in 2011, shortly after filming the debut season of Game of Thrones, and the second in 2013, which required surgery and left her with titanium plates in her skull. Her mother had also undergone brain surgery for an aneurysm. These experiences gave rise to SameYou, launched in 2019 to address what they saw as a glaring gap in neurorehabilitation support.

“One in three people will get a brain injury — for that huge statistic to be so unknown and underrepresented, we feel like if we bring about awareness, empathy, and understanding for those people, then we’ve done a huge amount,” Emilia told BBC News.

From Trauma to Advocacy

In a 2019 New Yorker essay, Emilia described the overwhelming pain, fatigue, and fear of her recoveries — and the isolation that followed. She kept her condition private from most of her Game of Thrones colleagues, but later chose to speak out to reduce stigma and push for better post-hospital care. Jenny, now SameYou’s chief executive, has been blunt about the shortfalls: “In the UK, you’re lucky if you get a few weeks of rehab, and then it’s just like falling off a cliff.”

SameYou’s initiatives, such as the Neurorehabilitation Online (NROL) program delivered via the NHS, have already supported nearly 1,000 patients. The program provides vital therapy and mental health services through accessible online sessions — a lifeline for survivors and families.

A Royal Encounter With Purpose

Standing in Windsor Castle’s grandeur, Emilia admitted to underestimating “the magical nature” of receiving the honor. Prince William, she said, put them at ease — even joking with her about not being allowed to bring her dog. On Instagram, he shared a photo of the pair with the caption: “From Westeros to Windsor, a real pleasure presenting @emilia_clarke and her mum Jennifer with their honours today for their charity work with @sameyouorg.”

For Emilia, the MBE isn’t about personal prestige. “The MBE is for the cause and the charity, and for that it’s wicked,” she said. Jenny echoed that sentiment, dedicating it to “the tens of thousands of people that have written to us and the millions of people around the world that don’t have a voice.”

A Legacy of Empathy

Running a charity, Emilia admits, has been “one of the hardest things I’ve had to do,” but the recognition has given her “a boost of energy and momentum” to keep going. Their shared mission — born from survival, strengthened by empathy — is to make sure no brain injury survivor feels forgotten once they leave the hospital.

From the throne room of Game of Thrones to the halls of Windsor Castle, Emilia Clarke’s journey has come full circle — a testament to resilience, and to turning personal battles into lasting change for others.