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.
