Princess Anne has made a surprise visit to Ukraine, leaving a teddy bear at a children's memorial in Kyiv as a poignant tribute to the young victims of Russia's war. The Princess Royal, travelling at the request of the Foreign Office, placed the bear at the base of the memorial, telling First Lady Olena Zelenska that it was one her daughter Zara Tindall had owned.
The visit, which was not publicised beforehand for security reasons, took place on Tuesday, just two days after a Russian aerial bombardment killed at least four people in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old girl. Anne and Mrs Zelenska paid their respects at the Children's Memorial at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, which commemorates more than 650 children who have died since the start of the conflict in 2022.
Anne also met President Volodymyr Zelensky, handing him a sealed envelope with a red royal crest, likely a personal letter from the King. The president welcomed her warmly, and she replied, “You’re very kind. I don’t know how you have time to spare but there you go.” The princess toured St Sofia’s Cathedral, a Unesco world heritage site, and met female police and armed forces representatives, as well as families and children at the Child Rights Protection Centre.
More than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred or deported by Russian authorities. Anne, a long-time patron of Save the Children, asked about the charity's involvement. She also visited a rehabilitation centre, watching a canine therapy session and speaking to veterans learning to live with injuries and trauma. The trip followed a surprise visit by her nephew, the Duke of Sussex, who outlined plans to help rehabilitate the wounded.
