As she prepares to open a new chapter in her life, she seems happier than ever. Dressed in a black top and a white skirt, her head leaning slightly against the window frame, she displays a broad smile. This January 18, 2025, Buckingham released a series of never-before-seen photos of the Duchess of Edinburgh taken on the occasion of her 60th birthday, which she will celebrate on January 20. Three photographs – including two outdoors – taken by Christina Ebenezer this month at Bagshot Park, the Edinburghs’ home in Surrey.
“The Duchess of Edinburgh was interested in the creative style of Christina Ebenezer and wanted to support a woman photographer on the rise,” says the palace about this artist born in Nigeria. She “spent her early years in Lagos, before joining her immediate family in London,” we read on Christina Ebenezer’s website. The latter saw, in 2024, two of her works be chosen for the exhibition New Visions and Voices : Contemporary Portraits by Women at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
As she approaches her 60th birthday, Sophie from Edinburgh “feels renewed enthusiasm and commitment for her work in favor of equality between men and women and is looking forward to continue to embrace and advocate for this issue in the years to come,” says Buckingham. More than ever, Prince Edward’s wife wants to continue the fight and support, loud and clear, the causes that are close to her heart.
A “universally appreciated” personality
The Duchess does not count her hours. Whether traveling across the UK or abroad, Sophie has you covered. In total, she made 257 commitments during 2024, making her the fourth most active member of the Windsors. Thus relaying her own after the announcement of the cancer of her brother-in-law, King Charles III, then that of Kate to whom she is very close. “Sophie is both an asset for the nation and for the royal family, but above all she is a fantastic friend,” confides, at Daily MailMary Montagu-Scott, a great friend of the Duchess.
“She also has a great sense of humor,” says Lucy Brown, executive director of the Disability Initiative of which Sophie is the godmother. “A few years ago, all our clients wrote a sentence or a word on a piece of paper to describe it, and we put them in a treasure chest that we gave to them,” she explains in the columns from the British daily I told her I had removed all the cheeky words – like ‘nice bum’ – and she replied: ‘Why?’ She told me to put them back in. I don’t think people realize the extent of her impact because she keeps it low-key.”
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Everywhere she goes, the mother of Lady Louise and the Earl of Wessex spreads good humor, comforts those who need it, lends a helping hand… Those close to her have also been won over by her work and dedication since she joined the Windsor clan. Sophie is “universally appreciated” at Court, a source confides to Telegraph. According to a senior advisor to the Daily Mailthe British sovereign has been “impressed” by the “diligence” of his sister-in-law for a while.
Drawing on your past to build the future
As her birthday approaches, Sophie of Edinburgh looked back on her twenty-five years of service to the monarchy. “I learned a lot”, particularly about the disability sector, she explains to our colleague Hannah Furness from Telegraph who was able to follow the duchess during a day of work. “Most of the time, it’s a real joy. I never know what to expect, I never know who I’m going to meet and I never know what I’m going to learn,” she adds. “And the old adage ‘You learn something every day’ is absolutely true!”
That day, one of her engagements took Prince Edward’s wife to L’Arche, in south London. This organization is made up of “people with or without learning disabilities, on a mission to build a world where everyone has their place”, we can read on its site. Asked about her desire to get involved in this area, Sophie from Edinburgh confides that “it goes back to the time when [elle a] started to [s]”taking care of patronages and commitments”, cited by the Telegraph. Before adding: “I was trying to find, not a unique thing for me, but a direction to follow.” It was by reflecting on her past that Sophie found her way. “As I had worked in the field of public relations and communications throughout my professional life, I told myself that there was a lot to do with people,” she then revealed.
For her 60th birthday, no commitments on the program for Sophie from Edinburgh who will be able to enjoy a quiet Monday at her home in Bagshot Park with her husband Edward and friends. A short break to better resume the marathon of his official activities. With a smile. Always.
