The Duchess of Edinburgh in Zambia

14th September: Lusaka, Zambia

The Duchess of Edinburgh was welcomed to Zambia with a cultural welcome, featuring traditional song and dance, at the British High Commission in Lusaka. 

After being presented with local chitenje material, symbolising Zambia’s unity and diversity and the “One Zambia, One Nation” spirit, The Duchess met British High Commission and British Council staff.

In the evening, The Duchess joined a reception for Eye Health charities, hosted by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and Orbis, ahead of the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health in Antigua in November 2026. The Summit aims to end avoidable sight loss by 2030. 

Amongst guests at the reception were Government representatives, medical professionals and local charity delivery partners.

Her Royal Highness is passionate about eliminating avoidable blindness. In her role as Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, The Duchess has witnessed Orbis’s impactful work in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and India, over many years.

15th September: Lusaka, Zambia

On her second day in Zambia, The Duchess of Edinburgh joined a group of prominent Zambian women business leaders who shared their reflections on leadership, resilience and creating opportunities for the next generation. 

Her Royal Highness heard how women are shaping Zambia's economic future, taking on leadership roles across banking, investment, agriculture and manufacturing.

Later, The Duchess visited a Zambian family business, Jewel of Africa, founded in 1992. The company provides ethically sourced Zambian gemstones, with an emphasis on direct sourcing from Zambian mines, traceability and responsible supply chains. 

The company’s partnership with the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has supported apprenticeship training and employment opportunities for young refugees, including women trained in gemstone cutting to internationally recognised standards. Her Royal Highness visited the workshop and learnt about the company’s operations from manufacturing to cutting and polishing.

Next, Her Royal Highness visited Imvelo Studios to meet artists and survivors of gender-based violence who are using creative expression as a means of empowerment, healing and advocacy. 

Her Royal Highness toured the art exhibition at the studio, followed by a small-group discussion with the artists and survivors about how art and storytelling can build confidence, resilience and community dialogue. 

During the visit, The Duchess also met representatives and advocates working to tackle gender-based violence at a governmental and grassroots level.

In the afternoon, Her Royal Highness met the President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, and Mutinta Hichilema, First Lady of Zambia.

In the evening, The Duchess of Edinburgh joined students, educators, researchers, volunteers, UK alumni and education partners at the British High Commissioner's Residence to celebrate the people and institutions creating opportunities through learning. 

The reception highlighted education as one of the strongest and most enduring links between Zambia and the United Kingdom. During the event, The Duchess watched a performance from Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS).

16th September: Lower Zambezi, Zambia

On the third day of the visit, Her Royal Highness visited Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ), is a non-profit organisation committed to the protection of Africa's wildlife and natural resources in Lower Zambezi, working to combat poaching and protect the region’s wildlife and ecosystems. 

The Duchess of Edinburgh viewed CLZ’s education facilities, where children and local communities learn about conservation efforts and the natural environment. Her Royal Highness viewed displays including animal skulls and poaching equipment recovered from the National Park, demonstrating the depth of the issue. 

The Duchess then visited the canine detection unit, where specially trained dogs detect illegal wildlife products, including ivory, pangolin scales and rhino horn, as well as firearms and ammunition. Her Royal Highness watched a scent demonstration and meet the dogs’ handlers. 

Her Royal Highness concluded the visit by meeting members of the Kufadza Female Scouts, Zambia’s first all-women ranger unit, and watch a snare removal demonstration, a key part of their National park patrols. 

Then, Her Royal Highness joined conservationists for a ‘women in wildlife’ roundtable. They discussed women’s leadership in conservation and explore opportunities, barriers and organisational change needed to strengthen women’s participation. 

The roundtable featured women from Conservation Lower Zambezi and Wildlife Crime Prevention (WCP). WCP works in partnership with Zambian government agencies and other stakeholders to reduce wildlife and environmental crime. 

Later, The Duchess of Edinburgh had the opportunity to see the Lower Zambezi ecosystem and conservation themes discussed earlier in the day. Her Royal Highness witnessed some of the challenges facing the park as well as conservation partnerships, sustainable tourism and community linked environmental protection.

17th September: Livingstone, Zambia

Mosi-oa-Yunya is one of Zambia’s most significant heritage, tourism and natural sites. The Duchess of Edinburgh began the visit by laying a posy at the Victoria Falls Cenotaph, which honours the fallen of World War I. 

Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning "The Smoke that Thunders", is the traditional name for Victoria Falls, reflecting the immense spray and roar of the Zambezi River as it plunges into a series of basalt gorges. In 1855, Scottish explorer, David Livingstone was the first European to view the falls, which he named after Queen Victoria. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989, the falls are jointly managed by Zambia and Zimbabwe as a transboundary natural heritage site. 

Her Royal Highness then visited Victoria Falls accompanied by local historian, Peter Jones. 

 At Maramba Primary School, Her Royal Highness met young people taking part in sports and recreational activities delivered by Sport in Action, a Zambian NGO that uses sport and recreation as tools for development in schools and communities. During the visit, The Duchess joined pupils and programme coordinators, observing activities and hearing how sport is helping to drive positive social change, promote inclusion, and strengthen community development. Her Royal Highness also learnt about the organisation's work to empower young people and support healthier, more active communities through sport. 

Through its programmes, Sport in Action addresses issues including HIV/AIDS awareness, gender equality, health education, and social inclusion, empowering children, young people, and communities to lead active, healthy lives and contribute to Zambian society. 

Founded in 1998, Sport in Action was Zambia's first sports-focused NGO. Today, its programmes reach thousands of children and young people across 12 districts.

18th September: Livingstone, Zambia

The Duchess of Edinburgh visited Mukuni Rural Health Centre to recognise Zambia’s progress to eliminate trachoma, a painful and potentially blinding eye disease. Her Royal Highness learnt about Zambia's public health efforts towards eliminating trachoma, speaking to health workers, community volunteers and patients whose lives have been transformed through improved access to eye health services and community-led outreach programmes. 

Sightsavers, the international charity working to prevent avoidable blindness, works alongside the Zambian Ministry of Health to reduce the burden of trachoma. Sustained collaboration, community engagement and government leadership has all contributed to the significant progress Zambia has made towards eliminating trachoma as a public health problem by 2030. 

At Libuyu Secondary School, The Duchess of Edinburgh visited a Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) ‘Wellness Day’. The programme delivers inclusive family planning and reproductive health services, with a particular focus on reaching marginalised communities, hard-to-reach populations and people with disabilities. 

During the visit, Her Royal Highness learnt how the programme brings together schools, communities and health facilities to improve adolescents’ access to reliable sexual and reproductive health information and services. The Duchess joined a discussion with young people who have participated in the programme to hear about their experiences. 

At the Wayi Wayi Art Centre, in Livingstone Central, Her Royal Highness met artists who are using creativity to explore social issues including gender relations, mutual respect and the prevention of domestic violence. The Duchess was welcomed by a dance from Western Zambia and watch a traditional marriage ritual from the Bemba tribe. With an emphasis on empowering artists, women, and youth, Wayi Wayi provides hands-on art experiences, apprenticeships, and workshops. 

Founded in 2004 by Lawrence and Agness Buya Yombwe – who both studied art in the UK - Wayi Wayi Art Studio and Gallery is a family-run institution dedicated to preserving Zambia’s artistic heritage and fostering innovation in visual arts. Uniquely, the gallery is in the founders’ home, which is designed in a ‘Y’ shape – hence the name Wayi Wayi.