Duchess of Edinburgh to travel to Canada after Balmoral family gathering
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Duchess Sophie will travel to Canada next month, following a recent stay at Balmoral with the royal family. The visit is part of a special mission on behalf of King Charles III, who is head of state in Canada.
The 60-year-old royal is scheduled to arrive in Alberta on September 4, where her engagements will include a stop at Spruce Meadows. The show jumping venue, which she became patron of in April, is marking its 50th anniversary this year. Sophie already holds several equestrian titles, including Royal Vice President of the Royal Windsor Horse Show and President of the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials.
Spruce Meadows President and CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott praised the Duchess as “a wonderful example of grace, leadership, and dedication,” adding that the royal patronage is a valued gift as the venue expands into a full-scale sports and entertainment district.
The trip also echoes a royal moment from the past, as the late Queen Elizabeth II visited Spruce Meadows in 1990 to inaugurate an event in her name.
