The Duchess of Edinburgh proved she still has her competitive edge during a lively visit to the home of British hockey. Sophie, 60, swapped formal attire for trainers and joined the Great Britain women's national squad for an energetic training session at the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in Buckinghamshire.
A Royal Return to the Pitch
Arriving at the centre in Marlow, the Duchess promptly changed out of her heeled boots into a pair of adidas Ultraboost sneakers, ready for action. Dressed in a practical black jumper, slim-fit trousers, and a blazer, she appeared delighted to be back on the pitch. As patron of England Hockey, the national governing body, her visit on Monday was both official and personal, reconnecting her with a sport she loved during her school years.
Photographs captured the Duchess in high spirits, taking shots against Great Britain goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard and laughing good-naturedly at her own misses. She was seen chatting animatedly with players, including forward Holly Hunt, before participating in the outdoor session. At one point, she even seemed to channel another hockey-playing royal, recreating some moves reminiscent of the Princess of Wales.
From School Star to Royal Patron
The visit clearly resonated with Sophie's own sporting past. Royal biographer Sean Smith notes in his book, Sophie: Saving The Royal Family, that she was a talented all-round athlete at Kent College for Girls. She excelled particularly in hockey, where she developed a 'reputation for being an animal with a hockey stick', reportedly striking fear into opponents despite not being the tallest teenager.
"I always really enjoyed playing hockey, it's so much more than just a team sport," Sophie has previously said. "Hockey has a great social side and is a thoroughly enjoyable game to both play and watch." Her last visit to Bisham Abbey was in 2016, when she was still the Countess of Wessex.
Supporting Squads and Future Engagements
The engagement was comprehensive. After the on-pitch session, Sophie observed an indoor gym session with the women's team and later posed for group photographs with the GB Men's Senior Team. England Hockey president Alex Danson-Bennett called it an 'absolute pleasure' to host the Duchess. "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 told Hello! magazine. "We appreciate her ongoing support and look forward to hosting her again in the future."
This 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 ongoing patronage and active participation in events like the hockey session underscore a committed royal schedule focused on community and sport.
