Sophie announces overseas trip – Duchess of Edinburgh is set for Canada

The Duchess of Edinburgh has made a very subtle announcement about her plans for the autumn.

Buckingham Palace has shared in the Royal Diary that the Duchess of Edinburgh will be visiting Canada on 4 September.

Sophie off to Canada

The Royal Diary now shows an entry for the Duchess that shows she will be visiting the province of Alberta in September. No further information has been provided at this time.

Earlier this year, Sophie was announced as the new royal patron of Spruce Meadows, a show jumping venue. When Spruce Meadows shared the news, they also invited the Duchess to visit sometime this year.

Canada has seen multiple royal visits this year. King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Ottawa in May to attend the State Opening of Parliament and to visit communities in the surrounding area.

Prince Edward already took Edinburgh to Canada

The Duke of Edinburgh also made a solo visit to Canada from 25 June to 2 July. As the Colonel-in-Chief of The Prince Edward Island Regiment, he attended the regiment’s 150th anniversary celebrations. He also visited Toronto where he had engagements with two regiments there, in addition to meeting with local Indigenous groups.

Edward also spent 1 July in Ottawa where he was able to join in the capital’s Canada Day celebrations along with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Sophie’s visit comes at a crucial time. She’s set to fly the royal flag in the country just days before King Charles hosts Donald Trump on a State Visit at Windsor. The Duchess will play a part in that event, too. However, given the war of words that has engulfed political relations between the US and Canada this year, it’s interesting timing for this royal visit.