The Duchess of Edinburgh has go the archetypal British royal to sojourn Ukraine since the commencement of the Russian invasion.
Sophie, 59, met with President Zelensky and his woman - and passed connected a idiosyncratic connection from King Charles - arsenic she showed her solitary with survivors of conflict-related intersexual unit and torture during her affectional one-day trip.
The parent of-two travelled successful her relation arsenic champion of the UK's Preventing Sexual Violence successful Conflict Initiative and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
It is understood she was 'keen to amusement her solidarity with men, women and children affected by the Russian invasion'.
The duchess listened arsenic survivors of intersexual violence, some antheral and female, bravely shared their stories, arsenic good arsenic talking to pistillate IDPs - internally displaced persons - and volunteers who assistance their communities header with the trauma of the invasion.
The Duchess of Edinburgh (right) poses for a photograph with Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska (left) successful Saint Sophia Cathedral
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, smiles arsenic she looks up astatine the ceiling of Saint Sophia Cathedral alongside Olena Zelenska
The Duchess is shown a fresco arsenic she is fixed a circuit of the UNESCO World Heritage Site connected Monday
During her sojourn Sophie met with children who person present been safely returned to Ukraine, aft being forcibly separated from their families and deported by Russia arsenic portion of a sustained run to erase Ukrainian culture
She besides visited the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) wherever she met victims of the Russian invasion
The Duchess was seen stroking a canine during her sojourn to the UNFPA bureau successful Kyiv connected Monday
Sophie poses for a representation with radical astatine the UNPFPA office, with the Duchess 'keen to amusement her solidarity with men, women and children affected by the Russian invasion'
The Duchess speaks to unit astatine the UNFPA and learns of however they are moving to assistance victims of the Russian invasion
Sophie signs the impermanent publication astatine Saint Sophia Cathedral successful Kyiv during her whirlwind sojourn to the metropolis connected Monday
The Duchess looks astatine a humanities exemplary of Kyiv located successful Saint Sophia Cathedral successful Kyiv during Monday's visit
Sophie was seen to beryllium enraptured by the ornate decoration successful the 6th-century monument, which is known arsenic 1 of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, visits Saint Sophia Cathedral successful Kyiv connected Monday successful the archetypal sojourn by a subordinate of the Royal Family to Ukraine since the Russian invasion
She besides met with children who person present been safely returned to Ukraine, aft being forcibly separated from their families and deported by Russia arsenic portion of a sustained run to erase Ukrainian culture.
And she paid her respects to those who mislaid their lives successful Bucha, 2 years connected from its liberation from Russian forces, and visited the 'Road to Life', a span which became a cardinal portion of the Ukrainian absorption erstwhile it was blown up to halt Russian troops proceeding to Kyiv and aboriginal became a captious way for radical to fly to information from the Russian occupation.
It is understood she was peculiarly keen to amusement her enactment for Ukrainian women who person played important roles successful the struggle and assemblage betterment and held a gathering with pistillate volunteers who assistance their communities header with the aftermath of the attacks with intelligence wellness attraction activities for children.
Meeting with President Zelensky and First Lady Zelenska, Sophie discussed however champion to enactment survivors of conflict-related intersexual unit and the women peacebuilders who person a captious portion to play successful ensuring Ukraine's betterment and reconstruction is effectual and long-lasting.
Speaking astatine a league past month, Her Royal Highness said: 'Survivors present and astir the satellite person spoken retired truthful bravely astir their experiences.
'They are the astir almighty advocates who punctual america each that we indispensable not crook our backs connected the horrors of this crime, we indispensable ne'er hide survivors.
The Duchess looks astatine the ornate decorations of the cathedral, which is named aft the 6th period Hagia Sophia cathedral successful Istanbul
A usher shows Sophie a exemplary of the Saint Sophia Cathedral during a circuit of the spiritual complex
The Duchess (left) visited Saint Sophia Cathedral successful Kyiv contiguous alongside First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska (right)
Sophie walks successful the shadows of Saint Sophia Cathedral during a sojourn to Kyiv connected Monday successful her role as champion of the UK's Preventing Sexual Violence successful Conflict Initiative and the Women, Peace and Security agenda
Sophie looks astatine the sedate of Yaroslav I the Wise, the laminitis of Saint Sophia Cathedral successful Kyiv
'Rather, we indispensable basal enarthrosis to enarthrosis with each survivors to unafraid justness and holistic redress, and guarantee that this transgression isn't an accepted portion of conflict.
'Their rights and their voices indispensable beryllium astatine the bosom of each our efforts to consign conflict-related intersexual unit to the past books.'
Since 2022, the UK has pledged implicit £4.7 cardinal successful non-military enactment to Ukraine. This includes implicit £660 cardinal of bilateral assistance that prioritises the needs of women and girls, for illustration by backing captious services for survivors of Gender Based Violence, arsenic good arsenic moving with the Office of the Prosecutor General to enactment survivors astatine the centre of approaches to prosecuting conflict-related intersexual unit crimes.
The UK is besides moving with planetary partners to clasp those liable for atrocities to account.
Buckingham Palace said successful a statement: 'Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh is visiting Ukraine astatine the petition of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to show solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the warfare and successful a continuation of her enactment to champion survivors of conflict-related intersexual violence.
'Her Royal Highness this greeting met the President and First Lady of Ukraine and delivered a connection to them connected behalf of His Majesty The King.'
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