The Duchess of Edinburgh was all smiles as she completed some coaching training around Windsor Park this afternoon.
The mother-of-two, 58, cut a casual cut as she indulged in her late father-in-law’s favorite sport.
Prince Philip – who passed away at the age of 99 in April 2021 – took up chariot driving in 1973 when a wrist injury forced him to stop playing polo.
Over the next 50 years, the late King developed a passion for the sport – even helping to write the official rulebook and campaigning successfully for Britain to host the World Championships in the 1980s.
In his later years, Prince Philip was often seen driving his carriage in the Windsor park grounds – where Sophie was photographed today,
The Duchess of Edinburgh was pictured riding her carriage in Windsor Great Park this afternoon
Prince Edward’s wife seemed completely at ease in the driver’s seat of the carriage.
Dressed in a waterproof jacket and blue jeans, Sophie — who officially became Duchess of Edinburgh last month — wore a practical pair of brown knee-high riding boots.
She then covered her blonde hair with a Royal Windsor Horse Show baseball cap.
She was joined by two women who sat behind her in the carriage and seemed to work on the Windsor estate.
At Prince Philip’s memorial in April 2022, Sophie explained how Prince Philip taught her to drive the carriage in the early days of her marriage to his son, Prince Edward – whom she married in 1999.
However, she joked that the late king had instead chosen to focus his attention on her daughter Lady Louise, 19, who showed a natural talent for the sport.
She explained, “He was so happy when I started working out because I took it up… I was fine.” Well, I was really at the beginning of my gig driving career when I got pregnant with Louise.
So I then had to hang up the reins. So she was thrilled when she decided she wanted to go.
Prince Philip is pictured at the Windsor Horse Show in May 2003 after competing in the carriage driving category
The Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Philip were photographed together in September 2016. At his memorial, Sophie explained how her late father-in-law taught her how to drive in the early days of their marriage
Sophie was joined by two women who sat behind her in the carriage and seemed to work on the Windsor estate
And my father-in-law was always very good at encouraging her.
So when you didn’t just say, “Please, can I go?” Then he showed flair in it, he was cool with it.
Speaking of Louise’s close relationship with Philip, Sophie added: “They used to talk her way off and he would always come over if she was competing in Great Park, he would always come and watch her and watch her training days.”
Lady Louise in particular enjoyed a close relationship with the late Duke of Edinburgh.
The teenager, who is 15th in line to the throne, is an accomplished rickshaw driver, having followed her grandfather into the sport and her mother told how she gained Philip’s “great passion” and “natural curiosity”.
Lady Louise Windsor is pictured competing at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2022 – one year after the death of her grandfather
Prince Philip in May 2019 while attending the Royal Windsor Horse Show. The late royal took command of the chariot in the 1970s
Prince Philip reportedly left his granddaughter a green carriage and two ponies in his will.
This past April, Lady Louise competed in the British Indoor Carriage Championships.
She finished sixth in the Junior Novice class at the event in Grantham, Lincolnshire, at the weekend.
The late Royal Strollers near Norfolk before going on to represent Britain in many world and European championships.
In May 2017, Prince Philip spoke about how he took over the chariot when he stopped playing polo at the age of 50.
“I was looking around to see what was next,” he said, “I didn’t know what was available.
And suddenly I thought, Well, we have horses and carriages so why don’t I go.
“So I borrowed four horses from the stables in London, took them to Norfolk and practiced them and thought – why not?”
