Duchess of Edinburgh celebrates birthday amid pressure to step up after Kate and King's health concerns

Duchess of Edinburgh celebrates birthday amid pressure to step up after Kate and King's health concerns

WATCH NOW: Duchess of Edinburgh sits beside Princess of Wales at royal concert

GB News
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 20/01/2024

- 07:30

Sophie and Prince Edward tied the knot in 1999

The Duchess of Edinburgh is celebrating her birthday today, amid pressure to step up after King Charles and Princess Kate's health concerns.

Sophie, who turned 59 today, married Prince Edward in 1999 and is one of the hardest-working members of the Royal Family.


In 2023, the duchess carried out 219 engagements, which landed her in fifth place behind Princess Anne, King Charles, Prince Edward and Queen Camilla respectively.

It is expected that Sophie and Edward, along with the Princess Royal, will have to step up their number of engagements in the following weeks due to the recent health concerns regarding the Princess of Wales and the King.

Duchess of Edinburgh

Duchess of Edinburgh celebrates birthday amid pressure to step up after Kate and King's health concerns

Getty

​On Wednesday, it was announced that Kate, 42, was admitted to hospital for planned abdominal surgery.

In addition, it was made known that King Charles, 75, would soon be admitted to hospital for treatment regarding an enlarged prostate.

A statement from Kensington Palace shared that Prince William, 41, would not complete royal duties during his wife's hospital stay or recuperation period.

Queen Camilla, 76, is also expected to take on a smaller workload while her husband prepares to go to hospital.

Kate MiddletonPrincess Kate has gone to hospital for planned abdominal surgeryPA

For instance, she cancelled her flight back to London on Friday, choosing instead to remain in Scotland and care for the King, before he attends hospital next week.

Sophie visited the disability charity Mencap on Thursday, of which she is a patron, in Walton-on-Thames.

Staff at the charity sang to the duchess and invited her to dance to Stevie Wonder's 1980 classic Happy Birthday.

The royal looked lovely in an emerald green blazer, matching straight-leg trousers and a patterned dress shirt.

King CharlesKing Charles is set for a hospital procedure next week for an enlarged prostate.PA
Duchess of Edinburgh

Duchess of Edinburgh was the fifth hardest working royal of 2023

PA

She teamed the ensemble with a purple woolly scarf and brown leather boots.

It is unknown whether the Duchess of Edinburgh will have lavish plans to celebrate her birthday amid the Royal Family's current health concerns.

The duke and duchess live in Bagshot Park where they raised their two children, Lady Louise Windsor, 20, and James, Earl of Wessex, 16.

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