After the news broke, Buckingham Palace released a short statement on Sophie’s behalf.

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Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales (L) and Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales (2L), Britain’s Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (2R) and Britain’s Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London on May 9, 2023, as part of the Coronation celebrations. King Charles III thanked the British people for “the greatest possible coronation gift” on Monday as three days of celebrations for the historic event drew to a close with a massive volunteering drive.

Wednesday was the first day off from major group engagements for the Duchess of Edinburgh, 58, and other members of the royal family followingKing CharlesandQueen Camilla’shistoric coronationatWestminster Abbeyon Saturday. Sophie attended the church service with her husbandPrince Edwardand their childrenLady Louise Windsor, 19, andJames, Earl of Wessex, 15, andappeared on the balconyof Buckingham Palace together after.

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Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, James, Earl of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, guest and Prince George of Wales gather on the Buckingham Palace

Prince Edward, 59, and his wife joined the King, Queen,Prince William,Kate Middleton,Princess Anne,Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurenceand more royals for theofficial coronation group portrait, signaling their prominent place in the new reign.

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Britain’s Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh greets people as she arrives to attend a Big Lunch with residents and representatives from the Royal British Legion, the Scouts and the Guides, in Cranleigh Village Hall, Cranleigh village on May 7, 2023 in Cranleigh, England.

Continuing the festivities, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh spent Sunday at a Big Lunch in Cranleigh and sat front row with their teenage children at theCoronation Concertat Windsor Castle that night. The royal couple sat in on a Guide Dogs training class in London on Monday forThe Big Help Out, an initiative that encouraged volunteer work on the bank holiday in honor of the King’s coronation.

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Britain’s Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (centre left) and Britain’s Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (centre right) pose for a photograph with staff as they take part in the Big Help Out, visiting a puppy class at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Training Centre in Reading, west of London on May 8, 2023. - People across Britain were on Monday asked to do their duty as the celebrations for King Charles III’s coronation drew to a close with a massive volunteering drive.

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On Tuesday, Sophie and Edward joined the Prince and Princess of Wales and Princess Anne at agarden partyat Buckingham Palace. The celebrations are held as a way for the monarch to recognize public service.

source: people.com