The Duchess of Edinburgh will undertake a significant three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina from July 10 to 12, marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.
Her Royal Highness will attend the official commemoration at the Srebrenica Memorial Centre on July 11, where she will deliver a message from His Majesty The King.
The visit represents a poignant moment of remembrance and reconciliation, as Britain continues to support peace-building efforts in the region.
This marks the Duchess’s first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Royal Family last represented there by the Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, in 2015 for the 20th anniversary commemorations.
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, will embark on a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 to 12 July
Getty
At the memorial centre, the Duchess will lay a flower at the cemetery for genocide victims before meeting mothers from Srebrenica.
These are women who have lost sons, husbands and fathers during the atrocities that claimed thousands of lives.
The commemoration will serve as a solemn reminder of Europe’s darkest chapter since the Second World War.
Her Royal Highness has previously engaged with survivors from Bosnia and Herzegovina through video link in March 2021, as part of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.
The royal was mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide with her trip
Getty
On July 10, the Duchess will explore Sarajevo’s Old Town, where she will meet a local female peace builder to understand the conflict’s impact on women and their role in reconciliation.
Her Royal Highness will attend meetings with the Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which works across ethnic divides to locate missing persons from the 1990s war.
The Duchess will also engage with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, an issue she has championed extensively.
Religious leaders who promote peace and reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina will meet with Her Royal Highness during her visit.
Sophie’s husband, Prince Edward, has recently returned from a week-long tour of Canada
Getty
The Duchess will meet UK military personnel serving with Nato in the region, demonstrating Britain’s ongoing security commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Her Royal Highness will also meet the Commander of Nato and the Commander of Eufor Operation Althea, which maintains a safe and secure environment in the country.
Sophie’s husband, Prince Edward has recently returned from a royal tour of Canada and launched straight back into duties.
King Charles’s youngest brother welcomed 600 Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award winners to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the Scottish capital.
Sophie’s decision to not wear appear without her wedding or engagement ring drew attention recently
Getty
Meanwhile, Sophie visited the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, where she the grounds, sampled ice cream and engaged with young visitors.
Her visit made headlines as eagle eyed royal fans spotted without her Welsh gold wedding band or three-diamond engagement ring.
Three days later at the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival at Lannock Farm in Hertfordshire, Sophie’s engagement ring had returned to her finger.
However, the Welsh gold wedding band was still missing from the July 3 appearance, where she attended the day after Prince William had made an understated visit to the same event.
