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Duchess Sophie is all smiles alongside Prince Edward following reports of ‘peppercorn rent’ at Bagshot Park home

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The Duchess of Edinburgh was all smiles on Saturday during an outing with her husband, Prince Edward, when they attended the Coral Gold Cup Meeting at Newbury Racecourse.

The pair were all smiles as they attended Newbury Racecourse© David Hartley/Shutterstock

Sophie, 60, looked so glamorous wearing a khaki coat adorned with a giant bow on the neckline, which she accessorised with a straw hat featuring a vibrant pink band and a purple clutch bag emblazoned with her initials.

The pair attended the Coral Gold Cup© David Hartley/Shutterstock

The Duchess completed her look with brown chestnut-hued boots. Meanwhile, Prince Edward wore a smart grey suit, with a white shirt and blue tie. 

The outing comes after reports of the “peppercorn rent” Prince Edward pays at their family home, Bagshot Park. 

Media Image© David Hartley/Shutterstock

Sophie was thoroughly engrossed in the action!

Media Image© David Hartley/Shutterstock

Beaming in her ensemble, there’s no doubt the royal will have caught attention while watching the action.

Sophie added a pop of colour to her khaki look© David Hartley/Shutterstock

The outing comes after reports of the “peppercorn rent” Prince Edward pays at their family home, Bagshot Park. 

According to the Times, “he paid £5 million upfront for a lease of 150 years, but pays only a peppercorn rent.”

Peppercorn rent is a term used to describe a small, nominal rent, such as one peppercorn, to satisfy a legal requirement for a contract to be binding. This was something also reported by the Guardian last month.

Media Image© David Hartley/Shutterstock

There are no conditions set on the further sale of Edward’s lease, beyond that the new tenant could afford the property’s maintenance, meaning that Edward could profit from its sale.

Campaigners have since questioned whether Edward, 15th in line to the throne, can justify his occupation of a property that could otherwise be leased by the Crown Estate for taxpayer benefit.

LP Staff Writers

Writers at Lord’s Press come from a range of professional backgrounds, including history, diplomacy, heraldry, and public administration. Many publish anonymously or under initials—a practice that reflects the publication’s long-standing emphasis on discretion and editorial objectivity. While they bring expertise in European nobility, protocol, and archival research, their role is not to opine, but to document. Their focus remains on accuracy, historical integrity, and the preservation of events and individuals whose significance might otherwise go unrecorded.

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