LONDON: Sophie, the duchess of Edinburgh, made the UK royal family’s first-ever trip to Baghdad, on a visit to support victims of sexual violence.
She spent two days in the Iraqi capital, visiting a girls’ school and meeting with the country’s president and prime minister. The trip was unannounced due to security reasons.
She delivered a speech at the annual Women’s Voices First Conference to promote female participation in peace efforts.
UK Ambassador to Iraq Mark Bryson-Richardson, who accompanied the duchess for most of the trip, praised her for being the first member of the British royal family to visit Baghdad.
The duchess has long championed gender equality worldwide, announcing on International Women’s Day 2019 a scheme to support the UN’s women, peace and security mission.
During her visit to Baghdad’s Hitten Girls’ School, she discussed education and future ambitions with students.
She also met senior female business leaders during the trip, and visited a family planning center.
In her meeting with President Abdul Latif Rashid, Iraq’s First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed was also present.
The duchess passed on the greetings of King Charles to the Iraqi leadership, said Bryson-Richardson, praising the visit as a “sign of the strength of our bilateral relationship.”
Though other members of the British royal family, including Charles, have visited Iraq, her visit is the first to Baghdad. Previous trips saw royal visits to British troops in Basra during the Iraq war.
