Duchess of Edinburgh recounts Queen’s reaction to 2016 Olympic hockey final

The Duchess of Edinburgh has shared a humorous personal anecdote about the late Queen Elizabeth II during a radio interview marking a decade since Team GB’s historic gold medal in women’s hockey at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In a broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live on August 19, 2026, Duchess Sophie recounted being seated for a formal dinner at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on the night of the Olympic final against the Netherlands, while the match was underway in a different time zone.

As a longtime patron of England Hockey, Sophie described being kept informed of the score by an enthusiastic member of the household staff who repeatedly whispered updates to her during the meal. She recalled growing visibly restless by the end of dinner, admitting, "I was twitching." The Queen, noticing her daughter-in-law’s eagerness, eventually intervened. "Her Majesty sat there and said, ‘Oh, for goodness sake, just go!’" Sophie shared.

The Duchess said she immediately ran to the library to watch the remainder of the tense final. She was soon joined by Prince Philip, who, she said, "loved good sport." Sophie explained that the late Duke of Edinburgh appeared more focused on her passionate reactions than...