Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, made history by becoming the first member of the Royal Family to visit Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion. As reported by the BBC, she arrived on Monday for a one-day visit, representing the Foreign Office, to "demonstrate solidarity with the women, men, and children affected by the war.
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, made history by becoming the first member of the Royal Family to visit Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion. As reported by the BBC, she arrived on Monday for a one-day visit, representing the Foreign Office, to "demonstrate solidarity with the women, men, and children affected by the war."
The Duchess paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the town of Bucha during the Russian occupation.
During her visit, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, spoke with survivors of sexual violence and torture, and listened to the stories of children who had been forcibly separated from their families and then returned to Ukraine. She also visited a bridge that was blown up to halt Russian forces from advancing on Kyiv.
It is notable that no other member of the Royal Family had visited Ukraine during the war until Sophie's trip, underscoring the significance of this visit as a show of royal support for Ukraine. Shortly after the war began in 2022, Charles, then the Prince of Wales, had visited Ukrainian refugees who had crossed into Romania. However, Sophie's visit marks the first royal presence within Ukraine since the full-scale invasion.
According to reports, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, is married to Prince Edward, the youngest brother of King Charles III. She has been a consistent advocate for the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, demonstrating her commitment to humanitarian causes.
In 2022, Sophie became the first royal to visit Baghdad in Iraq. Her extensive travels include visits to regions affected by conflict and humanitarian crises, such as Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her visits reflect a broader engagement with global issues, emphasizing the Royal Family's support for those impacted by violence and war.
