Princess Anne Follows in Harry’s Footsteps With Surprise Trip — and Shares Emotional Story About Zara
Princess Anne made a surprise trip to Ukraine on September 30, just weeks after her nephew, Prince Harry, visited the country on September 12. During her visit, the Princess Royal paid her respects to the children and families who lost their lives to the ongoing war alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska. She also stopped by the Children’s Memorial, laying a teddy bear alongside the First Lady and sharing a personal detail about her daughter, Zara Tindall.
Anne, who visited Kyiv to discuss the UK’s support for Ukraine and its resistance efforts, told Zelenska, "That was one that my daughter had." Her secret visit, which was initially not publicized due to security reasons, came two days after a Russian bomb took the lives of four people, including a 12-year-old girl, and injured 70 others. In the aftermath of the traumatic incident, Anne met with female Police and Armed Forces to learn how they protect women and children in conflict zones.
Anne’s visit followed Harry's surprise trip at the invitation of the Ukrainian Government. His trip focused on launching a new rehabilitation center through the Invictus Games Foundation for injured veterans.
The Duke of Sussex founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to harness the power of sport in aiding the recovery of wounded military personnel. On his second Ukraine trip, he also met with the mother of a fallen Ukrainian soldier, who had previously participated in the Invictus Games, and offered her comfort and solace. His previous trip in April 2025, meanwhile, saw him visit the Superhumans Center, a clinic providing rehabilitation for injured army men and civilians.
In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine’s future.
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 26, 2022
Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine’s people as they bravely fight for that future 🇺🇦 W & C
While royal family members are expected to remain politically neutral, the Firm has openly professed its support for Ukraine amidst the war. On June 23, King Charles, too, had met Zelenskyy for a private get-together followed by lunch at Windsor Castle. In a break from protocol, the monarch has spoken about the 'indescribable aggression' that Ukrainians have faced since what he calls an 'unprovoked attack on their land.' Similarly, in 2022, in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the former Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said, "In October 2020, we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine's future. Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine's people as they bravely fight for that future."
As for Anne’s low-key visit, after she returned to the UK, a Buckingham Palace source told GB News, "Her Royal Highness was profoundly moved by the stories she heard of the ongoing impact of the war on Ukraine’s youngest citizens." They added, "Throughout the visit, she was inspired by all the hard work of the many organizations on the ground helping those whose lives have been turned upside down by the conflict."