The Duchess of Edinburgh proved she hasn't lost her touch as she swapped court shoes for trainers and joined the Great Britain women's hockey team for an energetic training session. Sophie, 60, visited the national squad at their Bisham Abbey training centre in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on Monday, showcasing the skills honed during her school days.
A Royal Patron Back on the Pitch
As patron of the national governing body, England Hockey, the Duchess was in high spirits during her visit to the elite sports centre. She arrived dressed in a practical all-black outfit of a jumper, slim-fit trousers, and a blazer, completing the look with heeled boots. However, for the main event, she quickly changed into a pair of Adidas Ultraboost sneakers, ready for action on the outdoor pitch.
Photographs captured the mother-of-two fully engaged in the session, taking shots against Great Britain goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard. Sophie was seen laughing good-naturedly at some of her missed attempts, displaying a keen and sporting attitude. She also chatted animatedly with players, including forward Holly Hunt, before taking her place to play.
Channeling Her Inner 'Animal' with a Stick
The visit clearly stirred memories for the Duchess, who was a dedicated hockey player during her time at Kent College for Girls. Royal biographer Sean Smith noted in his book, Sophie: Saving The Royal Family, that she had a formidable reputation on the field. He described the young Sophie as a "talented all-rounder" who "excelled" at hockey and "struck fear into her opponents," earning a reputation for "being an animal with a hockey stick."
During the session, she appeared to channel another hockey-loving royal, the Princess of Wales. Sophie was seen recreating some of Kate's best moves, who famously joined the Olympic team ahead of the London 2012 Games. The Duchess has previously expressed her lifelong appreciation for the sport, telling Hello! magazine, "I always really enjoyed playing hockey, it's so much more than just a team sport. Hockey has a great social side and is a thoroughly enjoyable game to both play and watch."
Ongoing Support for National Squads
The engagement was not limited to the women's team. Following the pitch session and an indoor gym visit, Sophie posed for group photographs with the GB Men's Senior Team, showing her support for both national squads. This marked her first visit to Bisham Abbey since 2016, when she was still the Countess of Wessex.
England Hockey president Alex Danson-Bennett hailed the visit as an "absolute pleasure." "It was fantastic for her to spend time with both our men's and women's squads and to take part in a hockey session with them," he said. "We appreciate her ongoing support and look forward to hosting her again in the future."
The sporting outing followed the Duchess's first official engagement of the year on January 10, when she visited The Lighthouse charity in Woking, Surrey. Her commitment to hockey, however, remains a constant, bridging her past as a competitive school player with her present role as a dedicated royal patron.
