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British RoyalsEuropean RoyalsThe NetherlandsThe Sussexes

Princess Mabel talks breaking AIDS stigma

“We must break the stigma that surrounds AIDS still, even in the Netherlands”, Princess Mabel said on the Amstel field in Amsterdam just before a protest march to the Amsterdam RAI where the AIDS2018 Conference is being held.

Princess Mabel joined the march that is the ending of the Towards ZERO Together AIDS-walk, which began in Brussels last week and ended last Monday. “I am walking with you because there is still no cure for AIDS, but it is possible. The political will is not there yet, but we can make that political will happen.” Even though great progress has been made in the last 30 years, Princess Mabel said: “We are only halfway there.” Princess Mabel added, “We may not be able to end AIDS by 2030 like we wanted to according to the mission.”

Princess Mabel at the front of the march wearing sneakers and a black t-shirt with the words “HIV-POSITIVE” on the front and “Fighting HIV/AIDS” on the back.

The AIDS conference is taking place for the 22nd time. It is the largest health conference in the worlds and scientists, policymakers, activists and politicians come from all over the worlds to talk about possible solutions to the worldwide AIDS epidemic. The Duke of Sussex has also joined the conference and even joined a Facebook live conversation with Sentebale activists. Former United States President Bill Clinton and the Eurovision Song Contest winner from 2014 Conchita Wurst also attended.

Princess Mabel is the widow of Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau, the brother of the current King of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander. He died in August 2013, a year and a half after being buried under an avalanche in Lech, Austria. He had suffered massive brain damage due to oxygen shortage. It was unclear whether he would ever regain full consciousness, and he died of complications.