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Royal News

Get the period products out of the cupboard: Sophie’s strong message as she talks menstrual health

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

The Duchess of Edinburgh has said period products shouldn’t be hidden away but left around the home as she encouraged young women to be more open about their menstrual health.

Speaking at a special workshop at a school in London, the Duchess said it was time for tampons and pads to come ”out of the closet”.

And she shared one of her biggest concerns about periods, revealing that she had sometimes experienced flow so heavy that she was worried about standing up.

She also talked to girls about misconceptions around tampons and pads, saying that some people believed that sizes were related to physical shape when in reality they are linked to the heaviness of a period.

Several boys joined the workshop at Harris Girls Academy in East Dulwich with the Duchess of Edinburgh saying ””I think bringing boys into the conversation is very important. I’ve been to many countries around the world and other countries seem to be more progressive.”

The workshop was part of a campaign by Wellbeing of Women which aims to make periods something everyone talks about and is open on.

The Duchess of Edinburgh has spoken out before on menstrual health and has also shared her experiences of the menopause.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.