Duchess Sophie brought her royal presence on March 5 to Hever Castle Ltd for a crucial DEBRA UK event tackling epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
EB is a rare skin disorder where even the gentlest touch can cause the skin to blister and tear.
As patron of the charity, the Duchess joined 25 of the world’s leading specialists in EB, dermatology, paediatrics, pharmacology and reconstructive surgery for the first two-day EB Global Taskforce.
The meeting focused on accelerating the development of breakthrough treatments and shaping the charity’s forthcoming Global EB Strategy, which is due to be published in April 2026.
Addressing the assembled experts, Sophie, in a purple coat, praised their dedication and vision.
“There is the passion and drive evident in the expertise in this space to really make a difference,” she said.
“It will require innovative thinking, bold ideas and strategic creativity that can be the catalyst for the change that is so desperately needed.”
DEBRA UK shared highlights of the historic event on Instagram and thanked the Duchess for her guidance and support.
“Yesterday at the historic @hever_castle, the Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO, our charity patron, joined medical experts for our first two-day EB Global Taskforce,” the post read, with a heart emoji.
