Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, offered a rare glimpse into her day-to-day life as a senior working royal in a new interview. The Duchess appeared on the most recent episode of British Blind Sport’s “Golden Legacy Series” podcast with the charity’s CEO, Alaina MacGregor. The pair discussed her patronages, the sight loss community, and disability sport.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh visits a community center in Belfast on Tuesday. Liam McBurney – PA Images – Getty Images
“My role, as with all members of the family, is to primarily support the King and the monarchy. That is one side of the focus,” Sophie said during the episode that aired on Wednesday. “But also, we’re lucky enough to be able to fulfill our passions and our interests and these over my time as a member of the royal family have developed.”
Established in 1975, British Blind Sport is a nonprofit that makes sports and recreational activities accessible to people who are visually impaired, striving to give the blind and partially sighted people the same sporting experience as sighted people. The Duchess of Edinburgh, who married Prince Edward in 1999, is a royal patron to more than 70 charities and organizations, including several tied to eye health and support for blind and partially sighted people. Her daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, was born with esotropia, a condition that turns the eyes outwards.
Sophie most recently made her first solo trip to Northern Ireland since 2018 on Tuesday, where she visited Guide Dogs for the Blind in Belfast. The organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
The Duchess of Edinburgh meets puppy-in-training Luna with Guide Dogs for the Blind Northern Ireland in Belfast. Liam McBurney – PA Images – Getty Images
Sophie listens to members of the Walkways Women’s Group in Belfast. Liam McBurney – PA Images – Getty Images
Sophie also spoke about her work on women’s safety. She described travel tied to that work, saying it often brings her to places facing instability. For example, in 2024, Sophie was the first British royal to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022. During the visit, with she met with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture.
“We have the most incredible women who work within communities at all levels of society, and they are often at the frontline of ensuring that peace is secure, that their communities are looked after, and also we try to get them around the peacekeeping tables as much as possible,” Sophie said. “I spend quite a lot of time going to difficult countries, trying to highlight the work that is going on there, some of the problems they are facing and also trying to highlight some of the good practice that exists out there.”
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