Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Glows in a Floral Sundress During Visit to Congo

Rosa Sanchez
·2 min read

Sophie, Countess of Wessex had a transformative day yesterday, on day two of her tour in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Countess of Wessex met with participants of the City of Joy, a community program that supports survivors of violence and helps them overcome their trauma, gain confidence, and learn valuable skills to take on leadership roles in their communities. The program is led by V-Day, an organization and movement aimed to end violence against women and girls.

For the day of engagements, Sophie wore a happy outfit: a white sundress with a colorful floral print, paired with white espadrille wedges. She accessorized with gold jewelry, including a pendant necklace and earrings with light blue crystals. She also wore her diamond engagement ring and a soft pink manicure to match her vibrant ensemble.

Also on Tuesday, the royal visited the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, the capital of the Sud-Kivu province in Congo, which specializes in treating survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

Sophie toured the hospital, where she learned about the care that is given to mothers of babies born from sexual violence. She also met the foundation's founder and medical director, Dr. Denis Mukwege; spent time with the survivors currently being cared for; and spoke with the medical professionals supporting them in their rehabilitation.

Afterward, Sophie visited the Panzi Foundation, where survivors receive support to rebuild their lives and bring their abusers to justice. The countess was photographed joining women survivors in a textile skills workshop.

Sophie is the first member of the British royal family to travel to Congo. Her visit comes ahead of the International Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference in London, which is being hosted by the U.K. government in November.

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