Sophie calls for tampons to be taken 'out of closet' as she slams period-shaming

24 January 2024 , 16:05

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The Duchess of Edinburgh during a visit to Harris Girls' Academy in East Dulwich today (Image: Getty Images)

The Duchess of Edinburgh has said that tampons and sanitary pads should be kept "out of the closet" to encourage more conversations about periods in the home.

Sophie, a patron of Wellbeing of Women, today visited Harris Girls Academy in East Dulwich, London, to raise awareness of menstrual health issues. There she joined a workshop with pupils where they discussed the question "what is a normal period?" and learned how to get doctors to take you seriously when you ask for help.

Upon arrival, the Duchess was met by Mrs Lynn Cooper, Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London, who presented Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Chair of Wellbeing of Women and Women’s Health Ambassador. Dame Lesley accompanied the duchess during the visit and led a workshop for girls aged 15 to 18.

Sophie joined a workshop with pupils where they discussed the question "what is a normal period?" (Getty Images)

Sophie is patron of the charity Wellbeing of Women (PA)

Tanya Simon-Hall, owner of the menstrual health education workshops Adeno Gang, held a "myth-buster talk", to break down the taboos. The duchess heard that some of the girls were aware of friends forced to stay at home during their periods because they couldn’t afford sanitary pads. When asked what comes to mind when talking about periods, the duchess said: "When you have heavy periods worrying about when you stand up from a chair. That's the worst one."

The Duchess, who had emergency surgery in 2001 after suffering an ectopic pregnancy, spoke to the girls about how period products and tampon size related to flow rather than body shape. She said: "If you were going shopping and your friends are going for the mini and regular tampons are you going to feel self-conscious saying 'I need the big guns?' It’s not because of the size of what you are thinking 'Oh I must be really big down there'."

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Sophie poses with some of those who took part in the discussion (PA)

She went on to say that period products should be on display at home rather than locked in a cupboard, saying: "Let's get them out of the closet." The duchess told three boys, who joined the group for the end of the workshop, that they were "very brave" for agreeing to talk about periods.

She said: "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." One boy said his sister was "very moody" before her periods. Dame Lesley explained that this was caused by hormonal fluctuations, saying: "Hopefully you’ll be more sympathetic now, but I’m sure you were anyway." The duchess joked: "Just lock the knives away."

When asked about the period products she used, Dame Lesley said was "happily menopausal" to which the duchess replied: 'Ditto!' Dame Lesley, the government’s ambassador for the Women’s Health Strategy and chair of Wellbeing of Women, said that girls need to be told about menstruation at a younger age. "Ten is now the average age that girls start to menstruate so they need to know about it earlier. Not masses of details but something to put over in a positive way.”

She added that she wanted every medical professional to ask about female patients' periods, even if they are presenting with seemingly unrelated symptoms, adding: "The duchess was very helpful on our campaign on the menopause two years ago and now with our campaign Just a Period we hope to make it something that everybody talks about – over the dinner table, the breakfast table, in the petrol station, even. The duchess demonstrated that she is really open, receptive and, of course, she has a daughter, too."

Russell Myers