The Duchess of Edinburgh travelled to Iraq this week, meeting politicians and feminist activists in a rare visit by a British royal to the war-scarred country, Iraq's presidency said.
The last time a British royal visited Iraq was in 2006 when the late Prince Philip visited a base for British troops deployed to Iraq as part of the US-led invasion three years earlier.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, spent two days in Baghdad, where she met President Abdul Latif Rashid and his wife Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, the Iraqi presidency said in a statement.
The visit by the wife of King Charles' youngest brother Edward was done in secret and ended on Tuesday.
The Iraqi presidency said the duchess delivered a written message from King Charles III -- who had himself visited Iraq in 2004.
She also met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani.
The duchess delivered a speech at a conference on women's rights organised by the British embassy in Baghdad, during which she met representatives of women's rights groups, Buckingham Palace said Tuesday.
King Charles III in March awarded Edward the title of Duke of Edinburgh, which was previously held by their father Prince Philip.
Iraq remains traumatised from the years of war, occupation and bloody sectarian turmoil that followed the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
US, UK Troops Among 3 Dead In Iraq Rocket Attack Prince George Makes First Appearance at Queen Elizabeth's Birthday 5 UK School Pupils Fighting for IS Killed in Syria, Iraq US Millionaire, Who Died By Suicide, Owed $34 Million With $8,000 In Bank Manipur Chief Minister Slams Tejashwi Yadav Over "Racist" Jab At Himanta Sarma UK's Seat Should Go To India: Ex-Diplomat On UN Security Council Reforms 8 Killed After Bus Carrying 47 Overturns In US State Of Mississippi: Report Trump "Disrespected Sacred Ground' At US Military Cemetery: Kamala Harris Top 10 US Universities Based On Forbes Rankings 2024 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.