Unlikely royal star supporting King Charles for sweet reason
The Duchess Of Edinburgh, Sophie, is one member of the royal family who has been supporting King Charles in the background for several years, for one sweet reason.
The Duchess Of Edinburgh once again showed she’s a force to be reckoned with as she took a trip to Belgium last week to fight for increased safety measures for children on the internet.
Sophie, 60, who is married to Prince Edward, took to the podium at a UK Government and European Parliament summit on children’s rights in Brussels to call for tougher action to combat online child sex abuse.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells us that Sophie’s brave work – which extends further than many realise – means she has become a strong asset to the royal family and a trusted ally for her brother- in-law King Charles.
Speaking to international officials and representatives from the tech sector at the summit, she described the “corrosive impact” of web-based exploitation.
It is no surprise that this is a cause close to Sophie’s heart, as the mother-of-two is a patron of more than 70 charities and organisations, including the NSPCC and Plan International UK, who she was representing at the gathering.
Expert Jennie explained: “Sophie has been quietly working in the field for years, campaigning to stop sexual violence against women in conflict zones such as Chad and Sudan,” says Jennie. “Sometimes she doesn’t even tell the media she is going. She doesn’t like a lot of fuss and just wants to get on with the job in hand… and make a difference.”
Explaining Sophie’s influential role in the monarchy, Jennie says, “Last year she became the first member of the royal family to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion.
She is increasingly being used in a senior role as ambassador for the UK. Her many years of just getting on with the job while the press chased after other members of the family have paid off. She is trusted by the King and she is trusted by the government to do what the royals do best – use the soft power of the monarchy.”
At the summit, Sophie urged tech companies to act “urgently” to curb the risk of children being exploited.
She told European politicians, “Today, children everywhere in the world are not only falling victim to adults wishing to groom them, but are exposed to an enormous amount of dangerous, harmful and inappropriate content including material on suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, violence and pornography — all with consequences that can prove devastating.”
Sophie added that governments cannot prevent the risks alone and explained, “ Technology companies are in a uniquely powerful position to promote positive change in developing services that are safe by design and proactive in addressing online harm [with] safety features built in at the outset.”
Sophie took the trip alongside UK minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, Jess Phillips, who told the room she has seen child abuse grow worse in recent years.
Jennie tells us that the causes “global champion” Sophie supports are similar to those of her late sister-in-law, Princess Diana. “She’s not alone in tackling difficult subjects.
Diana was the trailblazer with her revolutionary attitude to AIDS and HIV, leprosy and landmines,” says Jennie. “Camilla and Catherine also actively tackle issues like domestic violence, FGM and mental health.
“The duchess is a caring woman and a great asset to the monarchy and the country,” continued Jennie. “Her husband and her brother-in-law will be proud of her.”
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