Royal Encounters with Amazon's Giants
The Duchess of Edinburgh experienced a heart-pounding moment during her official tour of South and Central America when she came face-to-face with one of the Amazon's most formidable residents. On Wednesday, 12th November 2025, Sophie found herself inspecting a Goliath birdeater spider during a biodiversity nature walk in the dense Peruvian rainforest.
Guided by professional Amazon experts Rey Mozombite and Daniel Macedo, the Duchess displayed visible apprehension upon encountering the colossal arachnid. She brought her hand to her chest, mouth, and forehead as she observed the creature, which was resting on a leaf held by one of her guides.
Confronting the King of Spiders
Demonstrating considerable courage, the royal initially watched the spider from a safe distance before taking the leaf bearing the creature into her own hands. Peering intently at the tarantula, Sophie examined what National Geographic describes as the largest arachnid on the planet.
The Goliath birdeater, often called "the king of spiders," can weigh up to 170g with a leg span approaching 30cm. Despite its intimidating size and name, its venom isn't lethal to humans, being primarily dangerous only to small creatures. Contrary to what its name suggests, the spider doesn't typically eat birds, preferring insects, frogs, and rodents instead.
Beyond the Spider: An Amazonian Adventure
The Duchess's jungle exploration didn't end with the tarantula encounter. Dressed practically in a short-sleeved white floral blouse, green trousers, and black wellington boots, she also handled a green anaconda snake under the careful supervision of her guides.
During her trek through the lush vegetation, Sophie spotted a sloth resting in the trees and used her mobile phone to capture photographs of the animal as it curled itself around branches. Her biodiversity walk also included a stop at an enormous Oje tree, where she stood among its twisted buttress roots and gazed up at its towering trunk.
The Duchess of Edinburgh is currently undertaking a 10-day official visit to South and Central America, travelling to Peru, Panama, and Guatemala at the request of the Foreign Office, with an additional stop in Belize – one of King Charles's overseas realms. Her journey highlights the incredible biodiversity of these regions and the importance of conservation efforts.
