Edinburgh royal takes on patronage role while Prince Edward stays in UK
Sophie has embarked on a new royal mission overseas, travelling to Canada for a four-day visit after being appointed Royal Patron of the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament.
The Duchess of Edinburgh, seen as an increasingly influential member of King Charles’s monarchy, was granted the patronage in April 2025. The role not only highlights the tournament’s reputation for world-class show jumping but also its extensive community and charitable work.
Arriving in Alberta, Sophie will attend the 50th anniversary celebrations at Spruce Meadows, tour the grounds, and meet athletes, staff, volunteers, and supporters. Chief Executive Linda Southern-Heathcott called her presence a “wonderful way” to mark the milestone.
The 60-year-old royal is also expected to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who championed similar causes and visited Spruce Meadows in 1990 to open an event in her honour. This trip marks Sophie’s first return to Canada in two years.
Meanwhile, her husband remains in the UK after completing his own Canadian mission earlier in the summer. As Colonel-in-Chief of The Prince Edward Island Regiment, Edward spent nearly a week in the country to mark the regiment’s 150th anniversary, attending a Freedom of the City parade and Canada Day celebrations, where he met Prime Minister Mark Carney.
