The Duchess of Edinburgh’s Secret Visit to Kyiv: Strengthening Ties Between Great Britain and Ukraine in the Face of War

The Duchess of Edinburgh, wife of Prince Edward and a member of the British royal family, visited Kyiv on April 29. This marked the first visit by a member of the royal family to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. President Vladimir Zelensky and First Lady Elena Zelenskaya welcomed her with open arms and expressed their gratitude for the support of the people of Great Britain, particularly in providing shelter for Ukrainian refugees and military assistance packages.

During her visit, President Zelensky emphasized the importance of British support and thanked the Duchess for her efforts in fighting sexual violence in war zones. The First Lady also acknowledged Britain’s assistance 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.

The Duchess visited Irpen, a city in Kyiv region, where she observed evacuation efforts and admired the resilience of residents in face of Russian shelling. Her visit was kept secret until it came as a pleasant surprise to Alexander Markushin, city mayor.

Overall, this visit highlights Ukraine’s strong relationship with Great Britain as well as international support for Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia.