Monarch praises Duchess as his “secret weapon” during powerful genocide memorial address
Duchess Sophie of Edinburgh appeared visibly emotional as she carried out a solemn royal duty on behalf of King Charles III during a moving engagement in Bosnia. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide, the Duchess attended a memorial ceremony where she read a heartfelt message from the King.
The deeply personal statement from King Charles expressed regret at being unable to attend in person and conveyed his profound sorrow over the atrocity. In his message, the monarch referred to Sophie as his “secret weapon,” praising her for representing him on such a meaningful occasion.
“I have spoken before about the terrible events of thirty years ago, confirmed as genocide by international courts,” the King wrote. “Many of the individuals responsible are now rightly facing justice, but this does not absolve the rest of us of our duties: both to acknowledge the international community’s failure to prevent the horror and to do all we can to ensure it never happens again.”
He went on to honour the victims and paid tribute to those working toward peace and reconciliation “between all peoples, of all faiths, nationalities and ethnicities.”
Duchess Sophie’s powerful delivery and visible emotion underscored the gravity of the moment. Her presence in Bosnia reflects the increasing responsibility she has taken on within the Royal Family, especially as both King Charles and Catherine continue to recover from cancer.
Once known for her quiet support behind the scenes, Sophie has emerged as a key figure in the monarchy’s public engagements — and moments like this highlight her growing influence and unwavering sense of duty.
