Shortly after the Tokyo Olympics, the Duchess of Edinburgh made another significant sporting appearance in the Channel Islands, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to her royal duties.
At 59, Sophie was seen in Guernsey actively fulfilling her role as patron of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (Asto). She greeted young sailors and took part in launching the Guernsey to Poole Small Ships Race, an event marking the RNLI's 200th anniversary, which featured around 130 youths embarking on a cross-Channel voyage.
Sophie also took to the water aboard The Prolific, a vessel from the Ocean Youth Trust South's fleet, where she delighted onlookers by taking the helm. In addition to showcasing her sailing skills, the Duchess impressed with her fashion sense, nodding to her recent engagements in Paris.
Previously, Sophie had been seen at the Tokyo Olympics, where, as patron of the British Cycling Federation and GB Hockey, she passionately cheered on Team GB. She was visibly emotional as Great Britain's women cyclists achieved a world-record gold medal. Soon after, she traveled to Guernsey to continue her engagement with young sailors.
Asto members expressed their pride in meeting the Duchess, with one young sailor, Joshua, telling the BBC: "She really got involved straight away... I'm honored to have her on the boat and to show her what the charity does."
Lauren Mackenzie, a crew member on The Prolific, shared her excitement about meeting Sophie: "We took her out, we got sailing, and she took the helm. She had a nice chat with us, getting to know everyone on board."
