Sophie’s 445-mile cycling challenge
THE Countess of Wessex is to cycle 445 miles from Edinburgh to London to mark the 60th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The ride is part of a Diamond Challenge to raise money in aid of the scheme.
Sophie, 51, will start in September from the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, accompanied by a group of servicemen and women.
A week later she hopes to arrive at her destination, Buckingham Palace.
Prince Edward’s wife yesterday admitted to being both “excited and apprehensive” over the trip.
She said: “Cycling is something I only tend to do with my children and never for more than the odd hour. “I am now training hard.” Her father-in-law set up the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 1956 and it is now one of the most popular self-development and adventure schemes for young people aged between 14 and 24 in the world.