Duchess of Edinburgh becomes first royal to visit Baghdad in Iraq

The Duchess of Edinburgh has go the archetypal UK royal to sojourn Baghdad - arsenic portion of her enactment to enactment survivors of intersexual unit successful conflict.

Buckingham Palace said Sophie had spent 2 days successful Iraq's superior to larn of the challenges women and girls face.

She visited a girls' schoolhouse to perceive from pupils astir their education.

After gathering Iraq's women young and old, Sophie visited President Abdul Latif Rashid and premier curate Mohammad Shia Al Sudani.

Sophie, who gained the rubric of Duchess of Edinburgh erstwhile her hubby Prince Edward took connected a caller relation successful March aft the decease of Queen Elizabeth II, has said successful the past that she is passionate astir supporting women and sex equality astir the world.

She champions a planetary inaugural to forestall intersexual unit successful struggle and connected International Women's Day successful 2019, she announced her ngo to enactment the UN's women, bid and information agenda, which promote women's information successful bid processes and struggle resolution.

During her sojourn to Baghdad this week, Sophie gave a code astatine the yearly Women's Voices First Conference to beforehand that docket - which says women indispensable play a portion successful each efforts to execute planetary bid and security.

Earlier successful the day, Sophie posed for photos with students and teachers astatine Hitten Girl's School arsenic she discussed acquisition for young women successful the country, and what their hopes were for the future,

She besides visited a household readying centre to perceive astir enactment being carried retired to enactment the reproductive wellness and wellbeing of Iraqi women, and met pistillate concern leaders to sermon the value of women's economical empowerment.

The duchess past paid a sojourn to the 2 men moving the state - premier curate Mohammad Shia Al Sudani and president Abdul Latif Rashid.

First woman Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed was besides contiguous arsenic Sophie was formally received by the president.

Mr Bryson-Richardson said Sophie and the 2 governmental leaders spoke astir the UK and Iraq's "strong ties", arsenic good arsenic discussing the country's plans to springiness enactment and justness to survivors of intersexual unit successful equipped conflict.

Sophie besides had a ceremonial task to complete, passing connected a connection of greeting from King Charles to the 2 leaders.

Mr Bryson-Richardson further praised Sophie for helping to rise consciousness connected the value of Iraq to the UK arsenic helium said it was a "sign of the spot of our bilateral relationship".

The unannounced travel had been kept concealed for information reasons and was made astatine the petition of the ForeignOffice, Buckingham Palace said.

The Foreign Office presently advises British nationals against each question to the bulk of provinces successful Iraq owed to the menace of convulsive protests successful and astir the International Zone successful Baghdad.

The UK and Iraq person been rebuilding their narration successful caller years owed aft British troops fought determination 2 decades agone successful the 2nd Iraq war, which broke retired successful 2003.

Other royals person visited antithetic parts of the state implicit the years.

When helium was Prince of Wales, Charles travelled to Basra successful 2004 to sojourn British troops warring successful the war.

A mates of years aboriginal successful 2006, Prince Philip, the precocious Duke of Edinburgh, besides made a astonishment travel to spot the troops successful Basra.

Sophie has had a precocious illustration this period arsenic she helped people the King's Coronation implicit the four-day celebrations.

She besides delighted royal fans arsenic she was spotted dancing to Lionel Richie arsenic helium sang his classical opus All Night Long during the Coronation Concert.