The Duchess of Edinburgh visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office from Monday, 29 September to Thursday, 2 October. During the visit, the Duchess travelled to the northeastern city of Beni in the province of North Kivu, where she met UN peacekeepers — the ‘blue helmets’ — from around the world, including the UK, at the Joint Force Headquarters of MONUSCO.
The Duchess also visited the Virunga Origins Café, an official partner of Virunga National Park — Africa’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, the Duchess learned how the National Park provides jobs, promotes women’s leadership, generates clean energy, and protects this uniquely biodiverse landscape and the communities who live there. The park is now the largest employer in the province of North Kivu.
The Duchess of Edinburgh also met women and girls affected by conflict and displacement at the UK-supported Women’s Safe Space — an initiative in Beni that offers psychosocial support and livelihood training.
Following the visit to Beni, the Duchess travelled to the capital, Kinshasa, where she was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. The Duchess later met the President of the DRC, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.
In Kinshasa, the Duchess visited the Panzi Clinic and met Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr Denis Mukwege, renowned for his work supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. The Panzi Clinic is a one-stop centre that provides survivors of sexual violence with holistic care — including medical, psychosocial, legal, and socioeconomic support.
Afterwards, the Duchess visited a safe house supporting survivors of a mass rape that occurred during a mass escape attempt from Kinshasa’s Makala Central Prison in September 2024, during which hundreds of women detainees were assaulted by thousands of men.
On the final day of her visit, the Duchess of Edinburgh travelled to Kintambo General Hospital in Kinshasa. Alongside the first female Prime Minister of the DRC, Judith Suminwa, and the Minister for Health, Dr Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, the Duchess met patients, clinicians, and members of civil society to better understand the measures being implemented to strengthen the national health system.
I can’t believe Sophie is 60, she looks great for it. What an asset this lady has turned out to be to the British Royal family!
ReplyDeleteI like the third look with the white blouse and half up/half down hairstyle - the whole look is fresh and youthful. JJ
Love the Max Mara dress ♥️
ReplyDeleteShe is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteIf I say something to each and every outfit, that will be not good, too negative. I'll make it positive: relative to the teal Max Mara, almost everything is better than that, but I have to admit: nothing is really good. - Can someone tell me why she puts her hand on the shoulder of two different men? It is sure not condescending, because she is not the type for that. I have the uneasy feeling that she should not do that, it is kind of too intimate when no other convincing reason is visible.
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Very interesting, for my the gesture express warmth, camadery, empathie, recognition, so many positive thoughts come to mind, now as went she does it, i dont know, but si interesting how from over picture we can have so very different reactions.
DeleteAs about her fashion, very true to herself, no wows, no surprises. And indeed looking very good for her age.
Luna
Hi 22:58, when you ask why she touches people in the photos… I think it’s simply her way with people / combined with you studying every detail of photos which represent a micro second of her day. She’s practiced now in going into other cultures as an official representative and I’m sure we can trust her in how she does that. She has advisors with her and will be well advised per culture. I find her full of heart, and having listened to several speeches of Sophie’s on very difficult topics, a very compassionate and hard working lady.
DeleteI really like the teal Max Mara for her purposes; it’s simple and enough. She wore it on a visit to a centre for victims of sexual violence, so once again with Sophie, the focus is put on the people she goes to visit not her outfits. I do like the array of clothes we see on this journey of hers, but more than that, reading the details of the visits, I don’t really mind what she wears, as she’s there for the projects and not the fashion.
DeleteIf pants have belt loops wear a belt, it finishes the look, and can make all the difference.
ReplyDeleteThis whole grouping is disappointing. The Max Mara jacket is by far the best and only piece of clothing I truly like. It's classy. Neither pair of espadrilles are flattering or add any sense of fashion.
ReplyDeleteEach and every outfit looks wonderful both smart , stylish and comfortable for the warmer weather. She does such marvelous work, its incredible the places she travels to mostly under the radar with little to no fanfare, important and trips of substance. Her visit to the Safe House for Women, wonderful, and what a difference I am sure her visit made to the ladies and workers of the house. Well done Ma'am well done. What an inspiration she is.
ReplyDeleteBusy lady. Today's fashions are not overly great. Do like the Max Mara dress considering she will be always on the go. Always nice to see her.
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My favourite outfit is the green shirt blouse and green trousers in the first three photos. These photos with the outfit show a different and very appealing relaxed and casual side of Sophie that we rarely see. She is not covered in layers of jackets or coats, just a cotton or linen blouse that she wears with a wide open neck. She looks great, and is in fine form.
ReplyDeleteMy next favourite is the Erdem dress, because it is light (both in colour and fabric), fits her well, and is slightly shorter than the other dresses and she kept it that way.
- Anon 9:13
Very impressive, this visit of Duchess Sophie. Everyone seems pleased with her attention and she looks good in every outfit.
ReplyDeleteÀ round of applause for her !!
We don't know the context in which Sophie puts her hand on the men's shoulders. Personally, I don't know enough about the Congolese culture. That's why it's difficult to make sweeping judgements. But when I analyse the reaction and the mood, I see a woman who is listening with great empathy and interest. She radiates warmth and respect. And I sense an environment that is enjoying this moment. Of course, there are situations where the outfit is not the main focus. I imagine it is challenging to find clothing suitable for temperatures around 30 degrees that allows for interaction and is also culturally appropriate. I think the Duchess does a good job, even if not every outfit suits her equally well. To me, Sophie is a wonderful ambassador!
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