Following in the footsteps of her nephew, Prince Harry, Princess Anne has carried out an unannounced trip to Ukraine.
At the request of the Foreign Office, the Princess Royal, 75, visited the country on September 30. Her schedule included a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a solemn stop at a memorial dedicated to children killed during the Russian invasion.
Highlighting the Impact on Children
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the purpose of Anne’s visit was to draw attention to the “traumatic experiences of children living on the frontline of the conflict.”
In her meeting with President Zelenskyy, she discussed the UK’s ongoing support for Ukraine and its fight against Russian aggression.
Later, accompanied by First Lady Olena Zelenska, the Princess visited the Children’s Memorial in Kharkiv, which honors all children who have died since the war began in 2022. In a touching gesture, she placed a teddy bear at the site and told the First Lady: “That was one that my daughter had.”
Supporting Displaced Children
Princess Anne also visited the Child Rights Protection Centre, which helps young people separated from their families by the war. Reports suggest that at least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been deported or forcibly relocated to Russia and Russian-occupied territories.
During her visit, she spoke with those working tirelessly to reunite children with their families and also met with children who had successfully been brought home thanks to these efforts.
The Princess Royal further extended her trip to a rehabilitation center, where she heard from veterans returning from the frontlines and those learning to adjust to civilian life. She observed a canine therapy session and spoke with service members about their recovery.
Prince Harry’s Earlier Visit
Anne’s visit followed closely on the heels of Prince Harry’s own journey to Ukraine earlier this year.
After engagements in the UK, the Duke of Sussex traveled to Kyiv at the invitation of Olga Rudnieva, founder and CEO of the Superhumans Trauma Centre. There, alongside representatives from his Invictus Games Foundation, he met with injured veterans and honored victims of the war.
Harry also held discussions with Ukraine’s Minister for Veterans Affairs, Natalia Kalmykova, about potential ways the Invictus Games could support wounded soldiers.
One of the most emotional moments came during his visit to a war memorial, where he laid a wreath for those who had lost their lives. Deeply moved, Harry described it as “the most insanely sad yet beautiful thing” and admitted: “I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life.”