Duchess Sophie just received a brand-new royal title, and it sounds right up her alley.
This week, the royal family announced that the Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, has been named an official patron of Girlguiding (previously known as “The Girl Guides Association”). The charity is basically the U.K.’s version of Girl Scouts because it’s dedicated entirely to girls and volunteer projects.
Girlguiding celebrated the exciting news on its official Instagram page by sharing a photo of Duchess Sophie. “We’re proud to announce that HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh is our new patron,” the caption read. “The Duchess’s patronage will continue the tradition of Royal support, following on from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who was patron from 1953.”
It continued, “Like Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh has a long-standing association with Girlguiding, starting from being a Brownie. The Duchess has been a passionate supporter of Girlguiding for many years since taking over the role of president from Princess Margaret in 2003. We will be appointing a new president in 2025.”
The news shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to royal aficionados because the duchess has served as Girlguiding’s president since 2003. The charity’s royal patron role was previously held by Queen Elizabeth II, who supported the organization until her death in 2022.
The announcement came about one week after the Duchess of Edinburgh attended the opening of the Domaine Evremond Winery in Canterbury, England, where she posed for a stunning photo while standing alone in the vineyard.
The duchess wore a plaid double-breasted blazer by luxury brand Vince and paired it with matching wide-leg trousers that were an ideal mix of cool and casual. She opted for a coordinating gray color on her nails, which abided by the royal family’s rule about no bright nail polish.
Keep up the great work, Sophie.
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