The Duchess of Edinburgh, known for her kindness and compassion, has once again won the hearts of royal fans with a heartfelt gesture.

During a visit to the Women Who Beat Isis photography exhibition at the Foreign Office in London, Sophie, 59, was photographed offering a comforting hug to Yazidi genocide survivor Awaz Abdi, who was captured and enslaved by ISIS in Iraq when she was just ten years old.

The emotional moment took place on Wednesday, as the Duchess wrapped her arm around Abdi while listening intently to her harrowing story. Abdi shared how her entire family was enslaved and how she was separated from them for months before managing to escape to Kurdistan.

Later, they were reunited in Germany. She spoke of the lasting trauma her family endured, particularly her parents, who suffered unimaginable pain at the hands of ISIS.

Sophie, visibly moved, expressed empathy for the trauma that Abdi and her family continue to live with.

She said, “Awaz and her family have lived with the ongoing aftermath and will do so for their entire lives. Communities of devastated families are torn apart. This is the most effective weapon that the world faces, and we don’t do enough to prevent the violence before it happens.”

Sophie’s gesture of solidarity and her support for the exhibition were widely praised by royal fans on social media.

One follower commented, “Duchess Sophie tells us all about love and freedom. She is the epitome of care in the Royal Family. I understand why the Queen supported her and loved her. We can all learn an important lesson from Duchess Sophie!”

Others highlighted her advocacy for gender-based violence victims, with one noting, “The Duchess of Edinburgh and The Queen are pioneers in the fight against gender-based violence and sexual assault. They raise awareness about the real abuse suffered by real people, making a difference in the lives of those we might never know about.”

Sophie, a passionate supporter of the UN’s Women, Peace, and Security Agenda (WPS) and the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI), continues her advocacy for victims of sexual violence and gender-based abuse. Last month, she was deeply moved while listening to refugees in Chad who had fled sexual violence during the Sudanese civil war.

This appearance was part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign aimed at challenging violence against women and girls.