Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh has change into the primary British royal to go to Ukraine since Russia invaded over two years in the past.

The 59-year-old royal made a one-day go to to the war-torn nation on Monday (29.04.24) to “present her solidarity” with the lads, girls and kids impacted by the continued battle with Russia.

Sophie met with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and First Girl Olena Zelenska and in addition delivered a message on behalf of King Charles.

They mentioned find out how to assist survivors of sexual violence associated to the warfare and the feminine peacebuilders who’re working to make sure that Ukraine recovers from the battle.

She later met survivors of sexual violence and displaced girls who’re serving to the nation deal with the trauma of the warfare by offering psychological healthcare actions for kids.

The duchess used a speech throughout her go to to sentence violence in opposition to girls throughout occasions of warfare.

Sophie stated: “It is true that ladies and ladies pay the best value by way of human value in relation to the way in which that they’re affected, the way in which that they can be utilized as weapons of warfare.

“Rape is used to demean, to degrade and to destroy, and we now have to get higher at attempting to stop that from occurring.”

She continued: “I have been assembly with survivors of sexual violence and the battle. I thank them for that honesty in telling me what occurred to them. Their tales are unhappy… however I admire their time and their openness.”

The British royal household has expressed assist for Ukraine for the reason that battle started in February 2022, with King Charles sending a message to the nation on the second anniversary of the warfare earlier this yr.

The 75-year-old monarch wrote: “Regardless of the large hardship and ache inflicted upon them, Ukrainians proceed to indicate the heroism with which the world associates them so intently. Theirs is true valour, within the face of indescribable aggression.”