Duchess of Edinburgh Breaks Royal Protocol

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Breaks Royal Protocol has become the first member of the Royal Family to visit Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Sophie’s trip was to “demonstrate solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the war”, said Buckingham Palace

The palace also said it was a continuation of her work to champion survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

The duchess, 59, met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the first lady, Olena Zelenska.

Sophie is a full-time working member

of the Royal Family, also delivered a private message to them in a letter from the King.

Grand figures carried out an investigation of the mass burial site in Bucha, where the remains of those who had been slain under Russian control were interred.

The duchess laid flowers at a memorial that contained the names of the victims.

In the initial moments of the confrontation, once Russian soldiers had departed, several corpses were located with bound wrists.

War crimes are being levied against soldiers reportedly answerable to President Vladimir Putin.

There are claims that soldiers acting under the orders of President Putin have engaged in war crimes.

It is alleged that these soldiers are under investigation for opening fire on civilians and committing rapes at close quarters.

During her visit, the duchess met survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. She also met survivors of torture, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

She met the children

Those forcibly displaced from their Ukrainian homes by Russia have made it back home, finding solace in the embrace of their families.

She came across female volunteers engaged in mental healthcare initiatives to assist communities post-attacks.

According to Sophie’s address, the use of women and girls as weapons in warfare results in an unbalanced burden.

The objective of rape is to debase, disgrace, and erase, and we need to make efforts to decrease its prevalence.

She added: “I’ve been meeting with survivors of sexual violence and the conflict. I thank them for their honesty in telling me what happened to them. Their stories are sad, but I appreciate their time and their openness.”

As part of her trip, Sophie visited the “Road to Life” in Irpin, also known as the Romanivska Bridge. The explosion prevented Mr. Putin’s troops from moving towards Kyiv, making it a crucial path for individuals fleeing from the Russian occupation.

The royal also visited Saint Sophia Cathedral with the first lady in the capital, Kyiv.

In the wake of the conflict in Ukraine, which began in February 24, 2022, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) has verified that a minimum of 10,582 civilians have been slain and 19,875 have been harmed in violence related to the conflict.

Those killed include 5,017 men, 3,093 women, 311 boys and 248 girls.

The King, when he was Prince of Wales, visited Ukraine in 1996. As monarch, he sent a message of support to the people of Ukraine on the second anniversary of the war.

He wrote: “Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely. Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression.”

In March 2023, Prince William visited Poland to thank British and Polish troops involved in providing support to Ukraine before meeting refugees who have fled the conflict with Russia to hear of their experiences.

She also expressed her support for the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS).

Over the years, the duchess has visited a number of countries to highlight the impact of historical and ongoing conflict.

They include Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Colombia.

And she has heard first-hand testimonies from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.