Duchess of Edinburgh Continues Zambia Tour Focused on Conservation and Gender Equality

The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, continued her five-day tour of Zambia on its third day by visiting the Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) base camp. The organization is dedicated to combating poaching and protecting the region's wildlife and ecosystem. This visit follows an earlier travel mishap that caused a delay in her luggage.

During her tour of the CLZ facilities, the Duchess viewed educational displays, including a confiscated ivory tusk and a homemade gun. She also learned about the work of the canine detection unit, which uses specially trained dogs to identify illegal wildlife products such as ivory, pangolin scales, and rhino horn. The visit concluded with a meeting with members of Zambia's first all-women ranger unit, highlighting efforts to monitor the Lower Zambezi region and National Park.

The Duchess's engagements in Zambia, undertaken at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, aim to draw attention to issues including gender equality, climate change, and education. Earlier in her tour, on Tuesday, she attended a reception at the British High Commissioner's Residence in Lusaka, celebrating individuals and institutions fostering educational opportunities.

Sophie presented the President of Zambia with three jars of honey from British royal residences and gifted traditional Zambian chitenge fabric, refashioned into a scarf. She also observed zebras at the President's residence and engaged with artisans at Imvelo Studios, where she met with artists and survivors of gender-based violence who utilize creative expression for empowerment. The Duchess also discussed resilience and intergenerational empowerment with prominent Zambian businesswomen.

The Duchess's visit also included a focus on eye health. On Monday, she attended a reception hosted by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and Orbis, aligning with her role as a global ambassador for the agency. This work is personal for the Duchess, whose daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, previously had strabismus corrected. The Global Summit for Eye Health is scheduled for November in Antigua, aiming to eradicate avoidable sight loss by 2030.

Throughout her engagements, the Duchess has maintained a diplomatic and stylish presence, opting for attire that often reflects her surroundings or the occasion, including a green dress that echoed the colors of the Zambian flag.