The Duchess of Edinburgh spoke about the “worst” part of heavy periods at a female-led workshop in East Dulwich today.
Duchess Sophie, 59, visited Harris Girls’ Academy to join in a workshop educating young women about menstrual health issues. The event was run by Wellbeing of Women, an organisation which Duchess Sophie is patron.
During an important discussion, Sophie led conversation and highlighted just how periods affect some women. The royal – who is a mother-of-two – looked in high spirits as she joined the young attendees at the Academy.
According to a social media post on X by the Daily Mail’s royal correspondent Rebecca English, Sophie started an important discussion.
She said: “Sophie said sanitary products should be kept ‘out of the closet’ to encourage more conversations about periods in the home.
“She also revealed her own challenges telling students: ‘When you have heavy periods worrying about when you stand up from a chair. That’s the worst one’.”
This isn’t the first time that the royal has spoken out about her own battles with female health.
The 59-year-old has previously discussed her own personal experience with menopause. Sophie once opened up about the impact that menopause had on her life, including discussing that she suffered with memory loss.
In 2021, whilst speaking at an occasion to mark her patronage with Wellbeing of Women, Sophie said: “You suddenly can’t remember what on earth it was you were talking about.
“Try being on an engagement when that happens. Your words just go.”
She added: “And you’re standing there going, ‘Hang on, I thought I was a reasonably intelligent person’. What has just happened to me?”
She added: “It’s like someone has just gone and taken your brain out for however long before you pop it back in again, and you try and pick up the pieces and carry one.”
As well as being mother to 16-year-old James, Sophie is mother to Lady Louise Windsor, 20 and 16-year-old James, the Earl of Wessex.
