A captivating image of the Duchess of Edinburgh beaming has been made public by Buckingham Palace in honor of her upcoming 60th birthday.
The snapshot of Sophie laughing, seated on a window ledge at her residence in Bagshot Park, was taken by London-based photographer Christina Ebenezer earlier this month.
The duchess was dressed in a cream pleated skirt paired with a dark, long-sleeved knit top.
Buckingham Palace stated that Sophie selected the Nigerian-born photographer due to her admiration for her artistic photography style, as well as her desire to support a blossoming female artist.
Ebenezer has been recognized as a British Fashion Council New Wave Creative and a member of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Arts & Culture Leaders. Last January, two of her portraits were unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in collaboration with Chanel.
The palace’s statement further noted: “As the Duchess approaches her 60th birthday, Her Royal Highness possesses a rejuvenated sense of enthusiasm and dedication towards her initiatives regarding gender equality and eagerly anticipates advancing and advocating for this cause in the upcoming years.”
Sophie will privately commemorate her birthday on Monday at home alongside the Duke of Edinburgh.
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Sophie will commemorate her birthday on Monday privately at home with the Duke of Edinburgh. Pic: PA
Following the King’s coronation in 2023, the Duchess of Edinburgh has assumed a significant role within the Royal Family, undertaking official international visits and standing in for the monarch during his cancer treatment.
In April of the prior year, Sophie became the first member of the Royal Family to visit Ukraine since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, where she engaged with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska.
Subsequently, the duchess met with five women who escaped the civil conflict in Sudan and was deeply moved to tears while hearing about their “heart-wrenching” stories of sexual violence.
