Her Royal Highness Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, wife of Prince Edward, visited Kyiv on April 29. This marked the first visit of a member of the British royal family to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. During her trip, she was welcomed by President Vladimir Zelensky and First Lady Elena Zelenskaya.
The British monarchy’s support for Ukraine has been crucial in providing shelter for Ukrainian refugees and military assistance packages. President Zelensky expressed his gratitude to the people of Great Britain for their support during this difficult time. The First Lady also acknowledged Britain’s efforts in organizing a national judicial investigation into Russian war crimes and participating in the Coalition for the return of Ukrainian children held captive in the Russian Federation.
During her visit to Kyiv, the Duchess of Edinburgh met with survivors of Russian shelling who were evacuated from Irpen in the Kyiv region. She was impressed by their resilience and admired their ability to persevere despite ongoing hostilities. The visit was kept secret, but it was clear that Ukraine valued its relationship with Great Britain and appreciated its continued support in its fight against Russia.
The trip highlighted the strong bond between Ukraine and Great Britain as well as the international community’s solidarity with Ukraine during its conflict with Russia. It is hoped that this visit will pave the way for further dialogue and cooperation between these two countries as they continue to work towards peace and stability in Europe.