Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, stars in a new portrait for her 60th birthday, and the photographer behind the camera shares a never-before-seen shot from the shoot.
The Duchess of Edinburgh recently posed for photos to mark her 60th birthday on January 20, with photographer Christina Ebenezer posting a never-before-seen photo of Sophie on Instagram on the Duchess’s special day.
The sunny snap showed Sophie striking a pose with eye contact with the camera and a hand over her mouth, as if stifling a laugh or pondering a thought, as she leans in a doorway. The royal wore a burgundy sweater and brown patterned pants with gold statement earrings — revealing the third outfit from the photo shoot! In January, Ebenezer photographed Sophie at Bagshot Park, where she lives with her husband Prince Edward, and reflected on what it means to receive the royal commission.
Quoting a Bible verse about gifts, Ebenezer wrote that “God’s favor in my life has been nothing but a testimony” and reiterated how the photo shoot with Sophie came about.
Portrait of Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, by Christina Ebenezer.
Christina Ebenezer/Buckingham Palace via Getty
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh turns 60 — see stunning portrait: ‘She’s a trailblazer’
“These portraits were taken to celebrate the Duchess of Edinburgh’s 60th birthday today. After admiring the two portraits I photographed of Letitia Wright and Michaela Coel at the National Portrait Gallery, the Duchess wanted to collaborate and be captured in a different light for this new chapter of life,” the portrait, fashion and advertising photographer wrote on social networks.
“We had a very relaxed day wearing this at her house – she and the team created a very comfortable atmosphere. My favorite part was definitely working on the outfit together,” she said, adding a glittering star emoji and thanking her inner circle.
It’s understood that Sophie was interested in Ebenezer’s style of photography and wanted to support the up-and-coming photographer, and she did just that with her new birthday pictures.
Ebenezer was born in Nigeria and lives in London, and is professionally celebrated as a new wave creative by the British Fashion Council and Forbes 30 Under 30 head of art and culture. Her portraits Black Panther: Wakanda Forever stars Wright and Coel are featured in the National Portrait Gallery in partnership with Chanel in January 2024.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/sophie-duchess-of-edinburgh-the-lighthouse-012025-1-9d3ac354d7ee42e9b011149f9c111b70.jpg)
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh’s 60-year-old milestone style is ‘always simple and elegant’ (Exclusive)
While King Charles and Queen Camilla’s office officially released photos of Sophie Ebenezer’s birthday party on social media on January 18, that Instagram carousel did not include a shot of the duchess holding back a laugh. That montage began with a glamorous shot of Sophie wearing a black top with a white pleated skirt on a lighted window seat, and panned to show her standing in front of a beige backdrop under a green tree. Those two shots showed Sophie wearing a white coat over a brown turtleneck and green pants — meaning there were more outfit changes!
“As the Duchess looks forward to turning 60, Her Royal Highness has a renewed sense of excitement and commitment to her work around gender equality and looks forward to further embracing and championing this issue in the years to come,” the King and Queen team wrote. below the Instagram carousel. Sophie and Prince Edward, 60, do not maintain a joint social media profile like Prince William and Kate Middleton do, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s royal work is instead shared on the same accounts used by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/sophie-duchess-of-edinburgh-prince-edward-community-sport-and-recreation-awards-012025-1-009e8636ecff487983e92ded5f97eb3d.jpg)
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at the Community Sport and Recreation Awards on International Women’s Day at Headingley Stadium on March 8, 2024 in Leeds, England.
Chris Jackson/Getty
The Duchess is celebrating her banner birthday privately at home with Prince Edward while their children are away at school! The couple share daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 21, and son James, Earl of Wessex, 17, who are at the University of St. Andrews, that is, in boarding school.
The family recently stepped out together for Christmas at Sandringham with the rest of the British royal family, and a close friend calls her a “pioneer” in the family for the causes she takes on.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(640x182:642x184)/lady-louise-windsor-tim-laurence-earl-wessex-duke-edinburgh-christmas-day-sandringham-122524-6a97fe8bd944487290a0281513b7df1b.jpg)
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (centre) with her family on Christmas Day at Sandringham, December 25, 2024.
Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to receive the latest news on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
In April 2024, the Duchess of Edinburgh became the first British royal to visit Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022 and speak publicly about the once-taboo topic of menopause.
“She’s almost a trailblazer in the royal family,” says a royal insider. The Duchess of Edinburgh is the first member of the royal family “that I can remember talking about menopause. Areas that were previously ‘off limits’ she has embraced and championed,” the source added. “Voices that wouldn’t otherwise be heard or listened to really appreciate it.”
Sophie is a patron of over 70 charities and organisations, focusing much of her public work on gender equality, championing the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls, eliminating avoidable blindness and supporting people with disabilities.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education