The royal family have long been passionate sailors. As Prince of Wales, Edward VII commissioned one of the greatest racing vessels of all time, . Prince Philip was gifted the by the Island Sailing Club following his engagement to the Princess Elizabeth, and (in her signature breton top) famously raced circles around on America’s Cup boats during a state visit to New Zealand.
Sophie, Duchess of , is no different. After a joyous trip to to cheer on Team GB at the Olympic Games, the 59-year-old royal donned her sailing gear and took to the sea at Guernsey this week. As patron of the Association of Sail Training Organisations, Sophie certainly knows her hull from her rudder.
And it was in her role at the helm of the ASTO that the Duchess made her way to St Peter’s Port harbour for the Guernsey to Pool Small Ships race. The competition, held in honour of the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, sees young people racing across the Channel in 12 different boats. And the Duchess of Edinburgh was all hands on deck aboard The Prolific, a vessel owned by the Ocean Youth Trust South.
Donning a blue , a navy pullover and shorts, and some seaworthy shades, Sophie looked every inch the royal sailor as she stood in front of the steering wheel – and in typically wise , she wore a lifejacket, too. Lifting buoys onboard with ease, the Duchess looked right at home on the boat. The visit marked Sophie’s first time in Guernsey since acceding to her new title in 2023.
The year before, she had visited the island with to commemorate the 77th anniversary of Guernsey’s liberation from German occupation. Clearly still in the patriotic spirit, Sophie rounded out her nautical look with a Paris 2024 baseball cap, a souvenir from her time a few leagues across the sea for the Olympic Games this summer. The royal mother-of-two was in jubilant spirits in the velodrome as she cheered on cyclists Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant, who set a new world record to win the team sprint event.
Perhaps she might have enjoyed the sailing competitions, too: Ellie Aldridge claimed the inaugural Olympic kitesurfing gold for Team GB, and the nation’s first windsurfing medal since 2008 was won by a third-place Emma Wilson. This fortnight of sport hasn’t come at the expense of any royal glamour, however. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh recently enjoyed a theatrical date night with Prince Edward at the Wembley Park , where the pair caught a special viewing of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, .
The Duchess sported a suitable luxurious look for the extravaganza, pairing a gold Matelier dress with Jimmy Choo champagne wedge sandals and a set of golden Giulia Barela earrings. Meanwhile Prince Edward was smart in black blazer and royal blue tie. is the patron of the disability charity The Orpheus Centre, which the show was performed in support of.
At the theatre, Sophie and Edward joined Sir Richard Stilgoe, CEO of The Orpheus Centre, and met with cast members of Starlight Express. The couple appeared delighted to be attending the performance, beaming as they posed for photographs alongside actors Jeevan Braich and Kayna Montecillo. Earlier this summer, she and Prince Edward celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.
The couple have lived in the 51-acre Bagshot estate for all 25 years of their marriage, moving in following their royal wedding back in June 1999. The two have openly discussed their marriage in recent months, with the Duchess of Edinburgh giving a moving speech ahead of Prince Edward’s 60th birthday. The Duke wiped away tears as his wife told crowds at Headingley Stadium that ‘he is the best of fathers, the most loving of husbands, and he is still my best friend.
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