Duchess of Edinburgh connects with ‘inspirational’ astronaut in space during museum visit

The Duchess of Edinburgh spoke live to an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as she visited a historic automotive and aviation museum.

Sophie was accompanied by Brownies, Guides and Rangers on Saturday when she made radio contact with Sunita Williams at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey.

The event was part of a wider day of activities for children aimed at promoting engagement and participation of girls and young women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem).

This comes after the Duchess was announced earlier this week as the new patron of Girlguiding, the country’s largest organization dedicated exclusively to girls.

Sophie received warm applause as she was welcomed to the museum by more than 100 Brownies, guides, rangers and other guests.

Appearing on stage in front of a specially equipped microphone, the king then addressed Ms Williams as the ISS flew into range, some 270 miles above Earth.

Sophie said: “As current patron of the Girlguiding Association in the UK, I would like to thank you for the inspiration you have shown our young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Are you ready for your first question?”

She then asked the astronaut who or what inspired her to pursue her career and what advice she had for Girlguides listeners.

Ms. Williams turned to the girls and replied, “Do whatever you want – don’t get stuck in one thing or another.”

Ms. Williams, an astronaut since 1998, made her third trip to the International Space Station in June for an eight-day mission.

However, she remained stuck on the ISS after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft she was traveling on experienced problems. February next year is now the earliest date she can return to Earth.

Answering questions read out by 10 members of Girlguiding Surrey West, Ms Williams revealed that she would have wanted to be a vet if she wasn’t an astronaut, that she wrote a diary in her free time on the ISS and that her favorite planet was Saturn.

The wider children’s audience then asked British reserve astronaut Meganne Christian, who was personally present, about further details of life in space.

Sophie was then presented with three commemorative Girlguiding Challenge badges and a rose gold patron pin.

As the Duchess left the museum, she stopped briefly to chat with public visitors, telling one of them: “It’s a beautiful museum – it’s so much fun.”

Angela Salt OBE, chief executive of Girlguiding, told the PA news agency after the event: “It was such an exciting day for the girls and for us adults too. It brings root themes to life in such a real way.

“We have a saying at Girlguiding that girls can do anything, and today they really proved it.”

Ms Salt said Girlguiding, which has around 385,000 members, had a lot of competition for girls’ time today but was “alive and kicking”.

She added: “Girls face so many challenges these days – it’s really hard being young, there are all sorts of issues with safety both online and in real life, so we’re helping girls have a voice and to have a space to be themselves.” .”

Opened in 1906, Brooklands Museum is on the site of the world’s first race track and later became a center for aircraft manufacturing.

Alex Patterson, chief executive of Brooklands Museum, said the event would create “lifelong memories” for Girlguiding members in attendance.

He added: “It is also a great honor for us to welcome Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh to Brooklands Museum and we thank her for her commitment to this special event.”

“It is an essential part of our mission to encourage and inspire girls and young women to take an interest in stem cells and pursue careers, particularly through the Brooklands Innovation Academy.”