The Duchess of Edinburgh took her late father-in-law’s carriage into Windsor today – joining her son-in-law, Prince Andrew, who was on horseback.
Sophie, 58, shared her love of carriage driving with the late Prince Philip, who was known to take up the sport in his 50s.
It is known that the mother of two children takes the late duke Old horse carriages sometimes take a ride, and today it was captured while driving around Windsor Castle.
She was wearing a blue jacket and baseball cap as she took the reins of the carriage in the spring sunshine.
Also on tour was Prince Andrew, who was pictured on horseback around the sprawling estate, wearing a navy uniform and matching helmet.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (pictured) was captured taking one of the late Prince Philip’s carriages for a spin around Windsor Castle today
The 63-year-old prince was seen driving away after the ride, snapping the steering wheel of a Range Rover.
Sophie’s appearance comes amid reports that the late queen suggested to Meghan Markle that she seek help from the then Countess of Wessex ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry.
Sophie became the “second daughter” of Queen Elizabeth II, after she married her youngest son, Prince Edward, in a lavish ceremony at St George’s Chapel in 1999.
But according to Robert Jobson’s new book Our King: Charles III – The Man and the King Revealed – Meghan gave only a curt response to the Queen, saying: “I have Harry.”
The Queen had decided that Harry and Meghan’s marriage would be off to a good start and offered the Duchess the help of one of her most trusted aides, Sophie.
Her late Majesty likely expected her proposal to be greeted with gratitude, and was surprised at the refusal of the American actress, who thought her husband’s assistance would be sufficient.
Queen Elizabeth II strongly believed that Meghan would be a breath of fresh air and a great asset to the monarchy.
And while things started on a positive note, after the royal couple stepped back from their duties at the start of 2020, their relationship with the rest of the family began to unravel.
Prince Andrew also picked up a ride in Windsor today. The 63-year-old is regularly spotted enjoying weekly rides in the area
He also snapped the King in his Range Rover as he drove away after his weekly excursion in Windsor.
Prince Andrew (pictured, right) was pictured riding on Saturday, the day before the royals gather for Easter service in Windsor
The Duchess of Edinburgh, who recently assumed the new title, an upgrade from her previous title of Countess of Wessex, has become a mainstay of the Queen’s household following the death of Prince Philip.
Granted her new rank, along with her husband Prince Edward, who inherited his father’s title, it was said that the new duchess was relieved that she would not have to pounce on Meghan.
Sophie was previously bound to defer to Prince Harry’s wife who, as Duchess, was of a higher rank.
A friend of the couple said: ‘Sophie is relieved. She no longer has to turn to someone in the family who has not only abandoned his royal duties but has spent the past three years criticizing the institution Sophie works so hard to support.
Sophie has become a well-liked and trusted senior member of the royal family, despite her scandals over the years.
She shares a close relationship with the Queen, who is said to treat her as a “second daughter”.
The Queen took care of Sophie in 2005 after her mother, Mary Rhys-Jones, 77, died of stomach cancer.
Prince Edward was elevated to the rank of Duke of Edinburgh to celebrate his 59th birthday, which means Sophie is now a duchess too. The former Countess of Wessex was previously bound by a duty to defer to Prince Harry’s wife (pictured together in 2019) who, as Duchess, was a senior
Prince Edward and Sophie’s home, Bagshot Park, is only a short trip from Windsor, which means the Queen’s youngest son and his family will visit it regularly.
Walking their dogs together was a favorite time for the pair. They also shared a love of military history, spending hours searching for old documents in the Royal Archives at Windsor, where Sophie and her mother-in-law indulged in their shared hobby, research on military history.
Even if she wasn’t able to see the Queen in person, Sophie always made sure to call “mama” every day, and was the first royal to speak out about Prince Philip’s death.
In 2021, a tearful countess described the Queen as ‘amazing’ as she and her husband, Prince Edward, consoled Her Majesty at Windsor Castle following the death of her husband, Prince Philip.
She’s also become a source of advice for the new Princess of Wales, who is said to admire the way Sophie balances her royal duties with motherhood.
