The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, has shared a delightful and slightly chaotic experience from her time with the late Queen Elizabeth II, revealing how her enthusiasm for sports nearly caused a royal stir during a family dinner at Balmoral.
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In a recent interview on BBC Radio 5, Sophie reflected on the tenth anniversary of Great Britain’s women’s field hockey team winning a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. As an ardent sports enthusiast and longstanding patron of England Hockey, the Duchess closely followed the Olympic events, even adjusting to the challenging time differences to keep track of the games.
However, her dedication to following the gold medal match, which occurred during a royal family dinner, led to a rather amusing scenario. The championship game was set to take place at the same time as the traditional summer gathering of the royal family at Balmoral, where they dine together—a setting vastly different from that of a typical dinner party.
Sophie, 61, shared how she found herself distracted by the ongoing hockey match and tried desperately to keep tabs on the score throughout the meal. This led to her being somewhat of a distraction at the table. “Somebody who was helping at the table and is an avid hockey fan kept coming in to whisper the score to me,” Sophie explained. Her anxiousness clearly began to irk the Queen, who finally issued an amusing ultimatum: “Oh, for goodness’ sake, just go!”
In a fit of excitement, Sophie dashed to the library to watch the remainder of the match, promptly joined by Prince Philip, who shared her enthusiasm for sports. She vividly recalled him being far more entertained by her animated reactions than by the game itself, as Sophie exclaimed with delight and frustration at pivotal moments.
As the match drew to a tense conclusion, Sophie was surprised to discover that the Queen had followed her to the library, standing in the doorway to observe. However, she soon realised that the pressure of the impending penalty shootouts was too much for the monarch to bear, leading Her Majesty to retreat once more.
Despite the Queen’s exit, the excitement culminated with Great Britain winning the penalties, which secured the women’s team their first Olympic gold in field hockey. Sophie described herself as being overwhelmed with emotion, shedding tears of joy while Prince Philip continued to watch her exuberance.
The royal family’s gathering at Balmoral Castle has always been a cherished tradition, especially for the late Queen, who often spent several months there, enjoying the tranquillity of Scotland. The estate has remained a beloved sanctuary for members of the royal family, and since Queen Elizabeth’s passing at Balmoral in September 2022, it continues to serve as a retreat for her descendants.
King Charles III has upheld this tradition, spending portions of the late summer at Balmoral. Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton, along with their three children, often visit to share in the familial connections tied to the estate. The positive memories associated with Balmoral were highlighted by Prince William, who reminisced about the joy it brought him during his childhood.
As the royal family continues to honour the legacy of Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral, Sophie’s anecdote serves as a charming reminder of the Queen’s own human side, as well as the light-hearted moments that punctuated royal life amidst moments of tradition and duty.