The Duchess of York has visited Ukrainian Jewish child refugees who are being cared for in  Bucharest, Romania

She visited the Tikva Children's Home and Refugee Camp in April, just before Pesach. She had previously visited Tikva in Odessa, Ukraine in 2013.

During her visit, the Duchess read bedtime stories to the children, and reconnected with three of the young women she had met with on her last visit – and congratulating one of them – Vika on having recently given birth to a baby boy.

The Duchess meets one of the children at the home (C) Blake Ezra Photography 2024 Not to be reproduced without written permission. @BlakeEzraPhoto info@blakeezraphotography.com

She also met adults in the refugee camp and heard about their efforts to rebuild their lives, visiting a local matzah factory where several of them are working. 

The Duchess hugs an old woman at the Home (C) Blake Ezra Photography 2024 info@blakeezraphotography.com

She said: "It has been an incredibly humbling experience to return to Tikva and spend time with the children and families here at the Tikva Children's Home and Refugee Camp. Their resilience and determination in the face of adversity are truly inspiring. My heart goes out to each and every one of them, and I am committed to supporting their journey towards a brighter future."

The CEO of Tikva UK, Karen Bodenstein said “We were honoured to welcome the Duchess back to Tikva. Even before the war the children we care for had been through so much – poverty, neglect and abuse. To know that they are held in the hearts and minds of others means the world to these young people. Everyone at Tikva extends their heartfelt gratitude to the Duchess for her compassion, kindness, and unwavering support. Her visit has left a lasting impact on the lives of those she encountered, serving as a beacon of hope and compassion during these challenging times.”