For Duchess Sophie’s 60th birthday: Radiant pictures on her special day

Sophie (59), the Duchess of Edinburgh, will turn 60 next Monday (January 20). The special day for Prince Edward’s wife (60) was already recognized by the palace on Saturday (January 18). New pictures show a beaming Duchess Sophie, who also wants to send a message with the photos.

According to an Instagram post, the photos by London photographer Christina Ebenezer were taken in Bagshot Park, the estate of Sophie and Prince Edward, in January. “The Duchess of Edinburgh was interested in Ebenezer’s creative photography style and wanted to support an aspiring photographer,” the post continued. As she soon turns 60, the Duchess feels empowered in her work for gender equality and looks forward to “continuing to advance this issue in the coming years.”

The first picture shows Sophie, wearing a black turtleneck and white pleated skirt, leaning against the wall in a window seat in her Surrey home and gazing into the distance with a beaming smile. In two other photos, the 59-year-old poses in nature in a beige coat, dark brown sweater and green pants. In the background you can see a cream-colored screen that was set up for the shoot.

Duchess Sophie will spend her birthday privately at home with her husband. Prince Edward, who turned 60 last March, and Duchess Sophie have been married since 1999. The youngest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and the Duchess married in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The two celebrated their silver wedding anniversary last June. The couple have two children, daughter Louise (21) and son James (17).