The Duchess of Edinburgh, sister-in-law to King Charles III, was in Iraq this week where she met political leaders and feminist activists in Baghdad, a rare visit to the country by a member of the British royal family.
The late Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, paid a surprise visit to British troops in Iraq in late 2006. They were part of the Washington-led coalition that overthrew Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003.
A similar step was taken by Prince Charles in 2004, who was crowned in early May.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh spent two days in Baghdad where she met President Abdel Latif Rachid and his wife Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, according to a statement from the Iraqi Presidency. The visit was kept secret until it ended on Tuesday.
According to the same source, the Duchess presented the head of state with “a letter from His Majesty King Charles III.” She also met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Chia al-Soudani.
She was speaking at a women’s rights conference organized by British diplomacy in Baghdad. “At the conference, the Duchess met with local women’s rights organizations,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the same source, Sophie also attended a high school for young girls in the Iraqi capital, where she met students and their teachers.
Sophie is the wife of Prince Edward, younger brother of King Charles III. Edward took over the title of Duke of Edinburgh in March, which Prince Philip held until his death in 2021.
Elizabeth II died in September 2022 after 70 years of reign, the longest in British history.