01102025 The Princess Royal talks with a Ukrainian veteran during his animal therapy session at a rehabilitation centre for Ukrainian war veterans in Kyiv CRED PA — Princess Anne spoke to a Ukrainian veteran during his animal therapy session at a rehabilitation centre for Ukrainian war veterans in Kyiv (Picture: PA)

The Princess Royal speaks with service personnel and veterans at the Second World War Memorial Complex in Kyiv CRED PA. — Princess Anne met service personnel and veterans at the Second World War Memorial Complex in the Ukrainian capital (Picture: PA)

01102025 The Princess Royal (right) meets Ukrainian war veterans relaxing in a salt therapy room at a rehabilitation centre, in Kyiv CRED PA — The Princess Royal met Ukrainian war veterans relaxing in a salt therapy room at a rehabilitation centre (Picture: PA)

01102025 The Princess Royal (centre) views a physiotherapy session in a rehabilitation centre for Ukrainian war veterans in Kyiv CRED PA — Princess Anne viewed a physiotherapy session involving Ukrainian frontline veterans (Picture: PA)

01102025 The Princess Royal visits a therapy session at a rehabilitation centre for Ukrainian war veterans in Kyiv CRED PA — The rehabilitation centre in Kyiv where Princess Anne met veterans, with a Ukrainian flag on display (Picture: PA)

01202025 The Princess Royal walks with President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting at St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv CRED PA — The Princess Royal walks with President Zelensky during a meeting at St Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv (Picture: PA)

01102025 The Princess Royal looks at Ukrainian sea drones during a visit to the Second World War Memorial Complex in Kyiv CRED PA — Princess Anne looked at Ukrainian sea drones during a visit to the Second World War Memorial Complex in Kyiv (Picture: PA)

01102025 The Princess Royal (left) walks with Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska (right), during a visit to the Children's Memorial CRED PA — Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska and Princess Anne walked together during a visit to the Children's Memorial (Picture: PA)

01102025 The Princess Royal smiles during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) in Kyiv, to discuss the UK's support for Ukraine and the country's ongoing resistance CRED PA — President Zelensky and Princess Anne discussed UK's support for Ukraine (Picture: PA)

01102025 The Princess Royal visits a Second World War memorial at the Second World War Memorial Complex in Kyiv CRED PA — Princess Anne visited a Second World War memorial at the Second World War Memorial Complex in Kyiv during her surprise visit to Ukraine (Picture: PA)

Royals

Princess Anne meets Ukrainian veterans during a surprise visit to the war-torn country

Princess Anne met veterans returning from the frontline at a rehabilitation centre in Kyiv, during a surprise visit to the war-torn capital.

The King's sister's visit follows that of her nephew Prince Harry, who travelled to Ukraine in September with a team from his Invictus Games Foundation to highlight the charity's support for the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers.

The Princess Royal spoke to the veterans, joining them during their physical rehabilitation exercises, animal therapy session and while they relaxed in a salt therapy room.

Since the full-scale Russian invasion three years ago, the Duchess of Edinburgh was the first working royal to visit Ukraine, in April last year, bringing a letter of support from the King.

Princess Anne meets wounded veterans in Kyiv

The purpose of Princess Anne's visit was to highlight the experiences of children living in a war zone.

The senior royal visited the Children's Memorial with First Lady Olena Zelenska, who opened the site in the Russia-bordering city of Kharkiv in the east of the country.

In a tribute to children killed in conflict, the princess placed a toy bear that used to belong to her daughter at the Children's Memorial at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in Kyiv.

Princess Anne's visit, made at the request of the Foreign Office, included talks with President Zelensky about the UK's support for Ukraine.

The King has met the Ukrainian president several times, welcoming him to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk in March.

In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said he was "grateful" to the Princess Royal for her "special attention and support for Ukraine and our people".

I met with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne. This is the first visit of Her Royal Highness to Ukraine since our independence was reinstated and it was symbolic that our meeting took place at such a historic site as Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.

The key… pic.twitter.com/JtGG48vTYs
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 1, 2025