Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh will attend the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ show jumping tournament Sept. 4–7 in Calgary in her role as royal patron.
Spruce Meadows says the visit will include tours of the grounds, meetings with athletes, staff, volunteers and other stakeholders, and time to observe events and enjoy some of the show jumping during what it calls the pinnacle tournament of its 50th anniversary year.
Born Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1965, the Duchess is married to Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, the youngest brother of King Charles III. She is 13th in line to the British throne.
The Duchess will also visit local charities supported by the Spruce Meadows Leg Up Foundation, the organization’s charitable arm. Built by the Southern family and opened in 1975, Spruce Meadows is a multi-purpose sports facility near Calgary. The equestrian show jumping complex comprises 505 acres.
Earlier this year, she accepted Spruce Meadows as one of her royal patronages.
Spruce Meadows says its community and charitable initiatives include support for amateur and grassroots sports, health and wellness, education, frontline workers, equality for women, the military and agriculture, and align with many causes Her Royal Highness advocates for.
Spruce Meadows president and CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott called the announcement “the most wonderful way in which we could have possibly celebrated our 50th Anniversary year.”
“My family and I are both delighted and humbled at the prospect of hosting Her Royal Highness at Spruce Meadows,” Southern-Heathcott added. “We were so thrilled to be accepted as one of her Royal Patronages earlier this year, and look forward to demonstrating the many ways in which Spruce Meadows endeavours to live up to that honour.
“We hope Her Royal Highness will enjoy her time here, as much as we will most certainly appreciate welcoming her.”
The late Queen Elizabeth II visited Spruce Meadows in 1990 to inaugurate an event in her name. The Duchess last visited Spruce Meadows in 2006 with her husband, when they were the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
She is Royal Vice President of the Royal Windsor Horse Show and President of the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials.
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