UK’s Princess Anne Honors Child Victims of War During Surprise Visit to Kyiv
British Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, paid an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Tuesday in a show of solidarity with Ukrainian families and children living under the strain of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Gaze reports this, referring to The Independent.
Travelling at the request of the UK Foreign Office, the King’s sister undertook a packed one-day program that combined moments of personal tribute with high-level meetings. Buckingham Palace described the trip as an effort to highlight “the traumatic experiences of children living on the front line.”
Anne joined First Lady Olena Zelenska at the Children’s Memorial, located within the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War complex. The site commemorates more than 650 Ukrainian children who have died since the start of the war.
The Princess placed a soft teddy bear at the memorial, telling Zelenska it was identical to one owned by her daughter, Zara Tindall. The First Lady, who also left a bear, appeared visibly moved by the gesture.
Princess Anne later met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St. Sophia’s Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site now listed as endangered. Their talks centered on Britain’s ongoing support for Ukraine. During the meeting, Anne handed the president a sealed envelope bearing the red royal crest, widely believed to be a personal letter from King Charles III.
Zelenskyy welcomed her warmly, saying: “You’re very welcome,” to which the Princess replied: “You’re very kind. I don’t know how you have time to spare but there you go.”
The Princess Royal visited the Child Rights Protection Centre, where she spoke with families and children who had been forcibly deported to Russia and later returned. She also met staff working on reintegration programs.
At a rehabilitation center, Anne spoke with Ukrainian veterans wounded at the front, watched a canine therapy session, and discussed the challenges of adjusting to civilian life with disabilities and trauma.
She also met women serving in the police and armed forces, asking about their growing role in protecting vulnerable communities.
Her itinerary also included a visit to St. Sophia’s Cathedral and the Kherson Cultural Exhibition, which pays tribute to the resilience of the southern Ukrainian region once occupied by Russian troops. The exhibition is supported by the UK-led Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine.
The Princess’s visit follows that of her nephew Prince Harry, who came to Kyiv in mid-September with his Invictus Games Foundation team. Last year, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, became the first royal to visit Ukraine since the war began, also meeting Zelenskyy.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Prince Harry’s Archewell Foundation has pledged $500,000 to projects aimed at helping children affected by war in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.