The Duchess of Edinburgh came face to face with the world's largest tarantula during a jungle trek in the Peruvian Amazon. Sophie looked visibly nervous as she inspected a Goliath birdeater, which can weigh up to 170g and have a leg span of nearly 30cm. The spider's venom is not lethal to humans, only to small creatures.
Sophie also held a green anaconda snake and cradled a tiny turtle before releasing it into the wild. Wearing green trousers and black wellies, she spotted a sloth resting in the trees and took photos with her mobile phone.
Earlier in her trip, the Duchess visited the Iquitos Naval Base and toured the BAP America, a river gunboat built in Birkenhead in 1904. She also met with women from indigenous tribes who have taken on leadership roles in defending women's rights and tackling environmental crime.
The Duchess attended a dinner marking the UK's first year of implementing a biodiverse landscape programme, designed to support sustainable production in the Andes and Amazon. Sophie has become known for tackling tough subjects, including visiting Ukraine and Iraq to support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
