Buckingham Palace confirms Duchess of Edinburgh will leave UK after summer with Royal Family
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Sophie’s autumn schedule is set to be full of engagements
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Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Duchess of Edinburgh will be visiting Canada in early September after spending the summer with the Royal Family in Balmoral.
Sophie, 60, is set to visit Alberta on September 4, where she will attend engagements including a stop at Spruce Meadows. The show jumping venue announced in April that the Duchess had become its patron.
Spruce Meadows President and CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott said at the time: "My family and I, together with all the people who make up Spruce Meadows, are deeply honoured that Her Royal Highness has taken on Spruce Meadows as a Royal Patronage.
"The Duchess of Edinburgh is a wonderful example of grace, leadership, and dedication - and is someone for whom I have great personal admiration.
Buckingham Palace confirms Duchess of Edinburgh will leave UK after summer with Royal Family
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"The Royal patronage is a true gift, as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and look ahead to a meaningful future, continuing our expansion into a full-scale Sports and Entertainment District for all to enjoy."
Sophie and her husband, Prince Edward, previously visited the venue in 2006.
The Duchess holds several equestrian roles, including Royal Vice President of the Royal Windsor Horse Show and President of the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials.
The late Queen Elizabeth II also visited Spruce Meadows in 1990 to inaugurate an event in her name.
The Duchess of Edinburgh pictured in Canada back in 2012
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Her last visit to Canada was in 2023, when she carried out a week-long programme in Ontario, St Catharines and Toronto.
The upcoming trip will follow the Royal Family’s annual summer gathering at the King’s Scottish residence, Balmoral, in August.
The Duke and Duchess are expected to be joined by their children, Lady Louise Windsor, 21, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17, for the family reunion.
Sophie’s trip will make her the latest royal to visit Canada, where the King is head of state.
Prince Edward and Sophie are two of the hardest-working royals
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In June, the Duke of Edinburgh marked the 150th anniversary of the Prince Edward Island Regiment and attended Canada Day events in Ottawa.
In May, the King and Queen made a historic trip to Ottawa, where Charles met Prime Minister Mark Carney and opened the 45th Parliament, delivering a speech in both French and English.
During that visit, the monarch was reunited with the Coronation Girls at Rideau Hall.
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Carol Shipley, who was among 50 young women from across Canada to attend the late Queen’s Coronation in 1953, reflected on the significance of the occasion.
She told Hello!: "I'm very happy that the King came, particularly at this time in our history when we are striving for our sovereignty.
"I think he’s a good King; we need leaders like him. He's a force for good."