Sarah Ferguson comforts Ukrainian children who were forced to flee to Poland

The Duchess of York met mothers and children forced to flee war-torn Ukraine during a visit to a Polish monastery today.

Prince Andrew’s ex wife, who is grandmother to Princess Eugenie’s son August, one and Princess Beatrice’s daughter Sienna, born in September, is the first member of the extended royal family to travel to Poland to meet Ukrainian refugees.       

Almost three million people have fled the country since Russia invaded last month, with the majority, more than 1.7 million, going to Poland. Fergie has been vocal about both the refugees and Polish people needing help, describing the situation as ‘heartbreaking’.

Today, the royal visited a Cistercian monastery in Rudy, where she was pictured embracing children and chatting to their mothers. 

The royal, the first member of the extended family to go to Poland to visit Ukrainian refugees, is pictured talking to a young boy during her monastery trip today

Fergie has sent three articulated lorries packed with aid including clothing, nappies, and non-perishable food to Poland. Here, she is pictured talking to mothers who were forced to flee Ukraine with their children, following the Russian invasion

Upon her arrival at the monastery, Sarah was seen holding her ‘Little Red’ doll as she stepped out of the car, the mascot for her Story time With Fergie and Friends YouTube show, and heroine of her own series of children’s books.

The royal, who recently relaunched the programme in a bid to show support to the children of Ukraine, said she hoped Little Red would be a real ‘bringer of joy and bringer of hope’ on the show, which appears to be her mission during the Poland trip.

Today’s outing follows yesterday’s visit to a centre for Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw. During which Sarah met Mayor Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski, saying she wanted to find out ‘what more we can do’.

Following the visit, Fergie took to Instagram, where she said that she was heartbroken watching the invasion of Ukraine and in particular was affected to see families being separated and civilians being caught up in the bloodshed.   

A man at the monastery in Poland presents the duchess with a card decorated with the Union Jack, as well as the Ukrainian and Polish flags

 Sarah Ferguson was snapped stepping out of her car with her doll ‘Little Red’ – the mascot for her YouTube show Story time With Fergie and Friends

Fergie said  she believes ‘the smile of a child is the most important thing in the world’, which is why she is so affected by the suffering of young people 

She added: ‘I have always believed the smile of a child is the most important thing in the world, so to see so many children caught up in this crisis is particularly affecting.’ 

Fergie gave further details about the trip, and her own relief efforts, via Twitter, where she made several posts outlining her thoughts about the situation.

She wrote: ‘The invasion of Ukraine is heartbreaking to watch. So many families are being separated and displaced. I’m honoured to be welcomed to Poland today by [Mayor Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski] and meeting Ukrainian refugees. Poland has taken in at least 1.7m so far.’ 

The Duchess of York (pictured right) meeting Olga (picture left) a mother of two who fled from Dnipro with her two children David 4, and Sophie, 2 – her husband is fighting in the Ukrainian army

Fergie, 62, was welcomed into Poland by Polish politician and the current Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski. She is pictured here meeting Ukrainian children who have fled to Poland with their families

The grandmother of August, one and Sienna, born in September said in an Instagram post that she has always believed that the smile of child is the most important thing in the world. She is pictured here speaking with a little girl

In another Tweet, she added: ‘My charity [Sarah’s Trust] is doing all it can to help: so far we have sent three articulated lorries with supplies from UK donors to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland. I’m here to learn from [Mayor Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski] what more we can do. So many people are caught up in this conflict.’

In a third post, she called on people to help, writing: ‘Mayor [Trzaskowski] showed me around one of the buildings giving refuge to families including Olga and her young children. He told me how an extra 9,000 children have arrived in Warsaw’s schools over the last 10 days and there’s a real shortage of teachers. Warsaw needs our help.’

Among the aid sent to Poland by Sarah’s Trust are clothes for women, children, nappies, hand sanitisers, toiletries, torches, and non-perishable food. Fergie said she ‘can’t thank the kind hearted donors’ enough. 

Sarah toured the centre’s sleeping facilities for refugees. Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski (who she met during the visit) has been part of the opening of a Warsaw job mediation point for the refugees

Fergie, who has sent three articulated lorries full of aid including clothing and nappies to Poland for Ukrainian refugees, was pictured engaging with children during the trip

Mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski (pictured, left) welcomed Sarah to the centre for refugees, where they discussed how best to help people fleeing Ukraine

During the visit, Fergie (pictured, left), posed with volunteers working at the centre for refugees

Fergie, who recently returned to her online show Story time With Fergie and Friends to show support to the children of Ukraine, was pictured embracing and comforting young people and their families who have escaped the invasion. 

In an Instagram post detailing the visit, she revealed she had spoken to families about their experiences of fleeing the country in a bid to find safety, including one mother, Olga, who fled from Dnipro with her two children David 4, and Sophie, 2, leaving her husband behind to fight in the Ukrainian army. 

She wrote: ‘I had the privilege to listen to Olga’s unimaginably brave story of escape from bloodshed. I promised her that I would pass on her deepest wish, NO MORE WAR, to the world. I am humbled by such courage and humility. 

‘I also met Anna, a production assistant whose parents remain in the outskirts of Kyiv, taking refuge in the basement of their building with no electricity or water for days. What these people are going through is unimaginable.’

Fergie shared details of her trip on Twitter, branding the invasion ‘heartbreaking’, and calling on people to help 

Mayor Rafał Kazimierz Trzaskowski, a Polish politician and current Mayor of Warsaw, showed Sarah around the refugee centre.

He has been part of opening a Warsaw job mediation point for the refugees, where there are interpreters, positions to fill out forms and information and leaflets in Ukrainian. 

In a post on social media he said that at the mediation point they are looking to hire influencers as soon as possible, primarily in healthcare and education. 

He said: ‘We are trying to ensure that the large number of new residents does not negatively affect the comfort of life of all Warsaw residents.’  

Much of the aid sent to Poland by Fergie’s charity Sarah’s Trust is to support parents and their young children. Here, the Duchess is seen chatting with a young refugee during her trip

 Mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, spoke to Sarah Ferguson about the influx of Ukrainian refugees into Warsaw, and how they can be helped

The Duchess, who recently returned to her online show Story time With Fergie and Friends to show support for both the children of Ukraine and their parents and grandparents, was pictured embracing refugees at the centre

Fergie said that it has been a privilege to meet the Ukrainian refugees and to hear their stories

Fergie has already received a lot positive comments from her social media posts about the trip, many brimming with blue and yellow hearts to show their support and love. 

One user commented: ‘ Sarah you are the best!!’

Whilst another added: ‘Amazing xx they def need lots of support xx’ 

A third said: ‘Amazing! Keep up the great work! Thank you for sharing her story and thank you for sharing links on your story last week where we could donate.’