Duchess of Edinburgh Named Patron of Armed Forces ParaSnowsport Team

The Duchess of Edinburgh has been named the new royal patron of the Armed Forces ParaSnowsport Team, a charity that supports wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans through adaptive winter sports. To mark the appointment, Sophie visited the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on Monday, August 10, where she watched athletes train, met with coaches and volunteers, and tried skiing and laser rifle target practice herself.

The Armed Forces ParaSnowsport Team, known as AFPST, uses adaptive skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic disciplines to help participants rebuild confidence, resilience, and a sense of community. The organization also creates pathways into coaching, competition, and adventure. Among its flagship initiatives is Project Vidda, an upcoming unsupported Arctic expedition across the Norwegian Vidda plateau for a team of amputee veterans. Another project, Project Volya, saw AFPST instructors travel to the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine earlier this year to train local instructors and veterans, expanding adaptive ski instruction and rehabilitation programs.

The new patronage aligns with the Duchess's long-standing commitment to supporting people...