The Duchess of Edinburgh earns praise for her courage and compassion
during a crucial overseas visit.
Buckingham Palace has released an update on the Duchess of Edinburgh’s recent
mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describing her work as both
brave and deeply impactful. The trip, undertaken at the request of the
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, earned Duchess Sophie
widespread admiration from royal watchers and the public alike.
According to an official statement shared through the Royal Family’s social
media channels, the Duchess witnessed “the devastating impact of the ongoing
conflict, particularly on women and girls,” and met with “women peacebuilders
working at the grassroots level to support local peace initiatives.”
Photos released by the Palace showed Sophie warmly interacting with women and
children affected by the conflict, offering comfort and encouragement. The
statement added that in the northeastern city of Beni — home to the Joint
Force Headquarters of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission — the Duchess met
“blue helmets” from around the world to hear about their efforts in “conflict
resolution, community resilience, and advocacy for women’s rights.”
During her visit, Sophie also spent time with clinicians at Beni General
Hospital, where UK-funded programmes are providing vital sexual and
reproductive health services for survivors of sexual violence in conflict
zones.
The Duchess has long been recognised as a global champion for the Women, Peace
and Security agenda, as well as a strong advocate for the UK’s Preventing
Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI).
Buckingham Palace’s public acknowledgment of her work comes at a sensitive
time for the Royal Family, following renewed attention on Sarah Ferguson’s
connection to the Epstein email scandal. Amid the turbulence, Sophie’s
humanitarian commitment has stood out as a powerful example of compassion and
leadership.
