The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, 60, was all smiles on Saturday as she joined her husband, Prince Edward, at the Coral Gold Cup Meeting at Newbury Racecourse. She wore a khaki coat with a large bow at the neckline, paired with a straw hat featuring a vibrant pink band and a purple clutch bag embroidered with her initials. Brown chestnut-hued boots completed her outfit, while Prince Edward opted for a smart grey suit, white shirt, and blue tie.
The outing comes after reports about the 'peppercorn rent' Prince Edward pays for their family home, Bagshot Park. According to The Times, he paid £5 million upfront for a 150-year lease but now pays only a nominal peppercorn rent—a small sum, often symbolic, to satisfy legal requirements for a binding contract. This was also reported by The Guardian last month.
There are no conditions on the further sale of Edward's lease, beyond the new tenant being able to afford the property's maintenance, meaning he could profit from its sale. Campaigners have questioned whether Edward, 15th in line to the throne, can justify occupying a property that could otherwise be leased by the Crown Estate for taxpayer benefit.
