The Duchess of Edinburgh has embarked on a remarkable 10-day tour of South and Central America, where she immediately faced one of her biggest fears during a jungle expedition in Peru.
A Terrifying Encounter in the Amazon
During a trek through the dense Peruvian Amazon, a visibly nervous Sophie came face-to-face with what's known as the 'king of spiders' - the Goliath birdeater, the world's largest tarantula. Photographs captured the moment the Duchess brought her hand to her chest as she tentatively inspected the enormous arachnid.
The National Geographic describes this species as the planet's largest arachnid, with a leg span reaching nearly 30cm and weighing up to 170g. Although its name suggests otherwise, the spider primarily feeds on insects, frogs and rodents, only occasionally consuming birds. Fortunately for the Duchess, its venom isn't lethal to humans.
Beyond the Spider: A Broader Jungle Experience
Sophie's adventurous spirit didn't stop with the tarantula encounter. Accompanied by two guides, she also held a green anaconda snake and cradled a tiny turtle before releasing it back into the wild. Dressed in practical green trousers and black wellies, she even spotted a sloth resting in the trees and used her mobile phone to photograph the creature as it curled around branches.
The jungle trek forms part of a wider diplomatic mission across the region, visiting Peru, Panama, Guatemala, and Belize at the request of the Foreign Office. Belize holds particular significance as one of King Charles's overseas realms.
Official Duties and Environmental Advocacy
Earlier in her Peruvian itinerary, the Duchess visited the Iquitos Naval Base, where she toured the BAP America, the world's oldest river gunboat. Built in Birkenhead in 1904, the vessel served in the Peruvian navy's Amazon flotilla before becoming a museum exhibit in 2015.
Sophie also engaged in meaningful discussions with women from indigenous communities, including the Awajun, Shipibo-Konibo and Kukama Kukamiria tribes. She learned about their leadership roles in defending women's rights, their contributions to territorial governance, and their efforts in tackling environmental crime and climate change.
The tour included a dinner marking the UK's first year of implementing a biodiverse landscape programme, designed to promote sustainable production and bio-business in the Andes and Amazon regions.
This trip continues Sophie's reputation for tackling challenging subjects head-on, following previous high-profile visits to Ukraine and Iraq where she supported women affected by conflict-related sexual violence. Earlier this year, she acknowledged that such emotionally demanding work can 'take its toll', but expressed hope that she makes a difference despite sometimes feeling overwhelmed by the scale of issues.
