Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh.Photo: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
The royal family’s line of succession can get a bit confusing at times — but who better to explain it thanSophie, Duchess of Edinburgh?
While visiting with students at Brockhill Performing Arts College in Kent on Wednesday, Sophie stepped up to the classroom’s dry-erase board to give a quick lesson on the royal family tree and just how the line of succession works.
At the top of the family tree was the lateQueen Elizabeth, drawn with a frown to indicate the sadness surrounding her deathlast September. Sophie and her husband,Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, publicly mourned the late monarch, referring to her as their"beloved mama"in a statement following her death.
UnderneathQueen Elizabethwere slash lines leading to four smiley faces, each indicating one of the late Queen’s four children: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Sophie’s husband Prince Edward — whom she called “Ed” in the illustration — and of course,King Charles, whom she nicknamed “KC” on the board.
On top of Charles’s smiley face, Sophie, 58, drew another little crown. Of course, King Charles will be officiallycrownedon May 6 at hiscoronationalongside Queen Camilla.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, draws the royal link of succession.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Prince William, who is next in the line of succession to the British throne, was also indicated on the board underneath King Charles with the same smiley face and crown.
The abbreviated family tree focused primarily on the line of succession and didn’t include the royal family’s extensive network of children, cousins and other relatives.
But a lesson in the royal line of succession wasn’t the reason for the visit; Sophie was on hand to present the school with theLEAF EducationDemonstration School Gold Award. The Duchess of Edinburgh is honorary president of LEAF Education (short for Linking Environment and Farming), which works with teachers to develop curriculums around food, farming and the environment, and incorporate hands-on learning about agriculture into their lessons.
Since Brockhill Performing Arts College is also a working farm, Sophie got her hands — and grey suede pumps! — dirty, grabbing a shovel to step into a patch of soil, where she helped plant a tree near the school’s greenhouse.
Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
The royal also met with some of the animals kept on-site. The farm includes sheep, pigs and chickens, but Sophie seemedparticularly fondof a calf. With a big smile, Sophie offered the young animal pets and scratches under the chin.
The animals raised at the farm areshown annuallyat the Kent County Show in July and at the Ashford Fatstock Show in December.
Her visit also included spending time with the students, who offered her a demonstration on how they sell products from the farm to raise funds. Theirfarm shop offeringsinclude honey, jams and jellies, baked goods like cupcakes, and more.
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Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
source: people.com
