Sophie breaks royal protocol to embrace Srebrenica mother at emotional ceremony

Duchess Sophie made a powerful and emotional appearance in Srebrenica to mark 30 years since the genocide that saw more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys killed, the worst atrocity in Europe since World War II.

At the deeply moving commemoration, Sophie embraced one of the mothers of the victims before delivering a speech on behalf of King Charles III, urging the world to remember the horror and ensure it never happens again.

The duchess visited the Srebrenica Memorial Centre and laid flowers at graves of newly identified victims. 

Wearing a white headscarf as a sign of respect, she toured the UK-funded exhibition displaying belongings of those who died or survived the massacre.

Sophie’s message in the memorial condolence book read: “Our duty must be to remember all those lost so tragically and to never let these things happen again. It’s only by working together that we find peace.”

Her emotional visit underscored the UK’s support for victims’ families and highlighted the ongoing need for justice and reconciliation. 

The duchess was said to be “profoundly moved” by the ceremony and her conversations with survivors. 

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