Following in Prince Philip’s tracks! Duchess of Edinburgh practices carriage driving in Windsor Park

The Duchess of Edinburgh was all smiles as she did some driving practice in Windsor Park this afternoon.

The 58-year-old mother of two looked casual as she indulged in her late father-in-law’s favorite sport.

Prince Philip – who passed away in April 2021 at the age of 99 – took up carriage driving in 1973 when a wrist injury forced him to stop playing polo.

Over the next 50 years, the late royal developed a passion for the sport – he even helped write the official rule book and successfully campaigned for Britain to host the world championship in the 1980s.

In his later years, Prince Philip was often seen practicing his carriage in the grounds of Windsor Park – where Sophie was pictured today.

Prince Edward’s wife looked completely at ease in the driver’s seat of the carriage.

Dressed in a waterproof jacket and blue jeans, Sophie – who officially became the Duchess of Edinburgh last month – wore a practical pair of knee-high brown riding boots.

She then covered her blonde hair with a baseball cap branded Royal Windsor Horse Show.

She was joined by two women, who sat behind her in the carriage and appeared to work for the Windsor estate.

At Prince Philip’s memorial service in April 2022, Sophie explained how Prince Philip taught her coachmen in the early days of her marriage to his son Prince Edward, whom she married in 1999.

However, she joked that the late royal chose instead to focus its attention on her daughter Lady Louise, 19, who showed a natural talent for the sport.

She explained, “He was so happy when she started the sport because I started it… I was fine. Well, I was really at the beginning of my driving career when I got pregnant with Louise.

“So I kind of had to hang up the reins then. So I was thrilled when she decided she wanted to try it.

Prince Philip photographed at the Windsor Horse Show in May 2003 after competing in the carriage driver category

The Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Philip pictured together in September 2016. At his memorial service, Sophie explained how her late father-in-law taught her how to drive a carriage in the early days of her marriage

Sophie was joined by two women, who sat behind her in the carriage and appeared to work for the Windsor estate

“And my father-in-law was always so good at encouraging her.

“So when she didn’t just say, ‘Can I please have a go?’ and then showed flair for it, he was just brilliant with her.”

Sophie opened up about Louise’s close relationship with Philip, adding: “They always chatted about it and he always showed up when she competed in the Grand Park, he always showed up to watch her and her training days.”

Lady Louise in particular had a close relationship with the late Duke of Edinburgh.

The teenager, who is 15th in line to the throne, is an accomplished coachman. She has followed her grandfather into sports and her mother has said how she inherited a “great passion” and a “natural curiosity” from Philip.

Lady Louise Windsor pictured competing in the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2022 – one year after her grandfather’s death

Prince Philip pictured in May 2019 while attending the Royal Windsor Horse Show. The late royal took up carriage driving in the 1970s

Prince Philip reportedly left his granddaughter his green carriage and two ponies in his will.

Last April, Lady Louise took part in the British Indoor Carriage Driving Championships.

She finished sixth in the junior novice class at the event in Grantham, Lincolnshire, last weekend.

The late royal raced carriages near Norfolk before going on to represent Great Britain at several world and European championships.

In May 2017, Prince Philip spoke about how he took up carriage driving when he stopped playing polo at the age of 50.

He said, ‘I looked around to see what was next, I didn’t know what was available.

‘And suddenly I thought, well, we have horses and carriages, so why not try it.

“So I borrowed four horses from the stables in London, took them to Norfolk and practiced and thought why not?”