Sophie Wessex has boldly shrugged off praise labelling her “brave” following her groundbreaking trip to Ukraine, making her the first Royal to set foot in the war-torn nation since hostilities with Russia broke out.
The Duchess of Edinburgh undertook a poignant journey to the outskirts of Kyiv in April, at a time when Russian forces were being repelled from the capital.
During her impactful visit, Sophie engaged with victims of wartime sexual violence, gaining a profound understanding of the trauma endured by survivors.
Despite accolades from admirers for her courage upon her return, the Duchess has humbly downplayed such claims in a personal account for The Sunday Times.
The 59-year-old Duchess of Edinburgh wrote: “Since returning to the UK, many people have said how brave or courageous I was for going.
“I am neither. The brave people are those who have endured extreme violence and survived.”
Although Sophie was the first royal to visit Ukraine since the war began, it was far from her first time visiting a conflict zone as she explained: “This was not my first time in a conflict zone. I have travelled to countries affected by war including South Sudan, Kosovo, Iraq, Colombia, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the hope that I can help draw attention to and encourage greater support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.”
In her diary, Sophie revealed that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a staggering 169 cases of conflict-related sexual violence have been reported.
However, the Royal warned that these figures are likely just the “tip of the iceberg” due to under-reporting, reports the Mirror.
Sophie painted a grim picture of wartime sexual violence, describing it as a “weapon requiring no training, no investment” and one that is “deployed globally.”
Through her diary entries, the Duchess aimed to shed light on the issue of sexual violence during war and inspire more victims to seek the help they need.
“History is littered with reports of women falling prey to advancing and occupying armies, and it still exists in modern warfare. Historically, this has often been viewed as a casualty or symptom of war, rather than a deliberate tactic to overpower,” she stated.
“It is only more recently that increased recognition has been given to these heinous crimes, and society has come to understand that it is used to demean, destroy and control.”
Despite being in Ukraine in an official capacity as a representative of the Crown, Sophie was adamant that she sought no recognition for her actions. Instead, she hoped that efforts could be directed towards survivors and resources to aid them.
“The courageous are those who have reported the crimes committed against them,” said Sophie.
“As we look around the world with so many current and threatening crises, my hope is that where conflict does occur more consideration is given to creating well-funded early systems of support for survivors.”
Sophie’s increased Royal involvement followed her agreement to tackle a larger role within the monarchy as Prince Charles and Kate Middleton trimmed their Royal responsibilities upon Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
However, far from succumbing under the strain, Sophie and her husband Prince Edward flourished, with Edward even stepping into Charles and Camilla’s shoes at this year’s ANZAC Day commemorations.
