After a few weeks of summer break, official royal duties are resuming, and the Duchess of Edinburgh is preparing for an exciting return. Tomorrow, Thursday, September 4, Sophie will travel to Canada for a four-day visit in her new role as Royal Patron of the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament.
The Duchess, who last visited Canada in 2023, will be in the country from September 4 to 7. During her stay, she will tour the grounds, meet athletes, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders, attend events, and enjoy world-class showjumping as part of Spruce Meadows’ 50th Anniversary celebrations. Sophie will also visit local charities supported by the Spruce Meadows Leg Up Foundation, a cause with ties to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who visited Spruce Meadows in 1990 to inaugurate an event in her name.
Her visit has been warmly welcomed by the team at Spruce Meadows, led by President and CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott, who described it as “the most wonderful way in which we could have possibly celebrated our 50th Anniversary year.” She added: “My family and I are both delighted and humbled at the prospect of hosting Her Royal Highness at Spruce Meadows. We were thrilled to be accepted as one of her Royal Patronages earlier this year and look forward to showing the many ways in which Spruce Meadows endeavours to live up to that honour. We hope Her Royal Highness will enjoy her time here as much as we will appreciate welcoming her.”
Sophie’s Canadian tour comes just ahead of another overseas engagement. Later this month, she will join Prince Edward on a trip to Japan. Buckingham Palace recently announced that the Duke of Edinburgh will first visit Papua New Guinea to mark the 50th anniversary of the nation’s independence from Australia. Representing King Charles, Edward will be there from Sunday, September 14, to Wednesday, September 17.
Following that, the Duchess will accompany him in Japan from September 18 to 22 for a series of engagements focusing on youth opportunity, sustainability and innovation, education, and women in leadership. Their program will highlight the strong relationship between the UK and Japan, while also reflecting the couple’s commitment to supporting future generations and global cooperation.
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