Duke of Edinburgh marked his 62nd birthday while supporting Team GB athletes at the Winter Paralympic Games
Buckingham Palace has clarified why Prince Edward and his wife Sophie were absent from the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration in 2026.
According to the palace, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were attending the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games, where they spent time supporting athletes from ParalympicsGB.
Sharing photos of the couple on Instagram, the royal family explained that they had been cheering on British competitors during several events and meeting members of the team taking part in the Games.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who serves as Patron of the British Paralympic Association, also met with staff and supporters working behind the scenes to assist Team GB during the competition.
Their absence from the Commonwealth Day Service came as the Duke celebrated his 62nd birthday.
Earlier, King Charles also marked the occasion by sending warm birthday wishes to his younger brother. The palace shared a photo of Edward alongside a brief message from the monarch saying, “Happy Birthday to The Duke of Edinburgh!”
Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, joined by William, Catherine, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
This year’s service reflected the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”, highlighting cooperation and shared progress as key strengths of the modern Commonwealth.
