The Duchess of Edinburgh paid a visit to the air ambulance service that once helped save her life.
Sophie, who turns 61 next week, was airlifted to hospital from her home in Bagshot Park by Thames Valley Air Ambulance in 2001, when she suffered a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy.
The then Countess of Wessex had to undergo an emergency operation at London's King Edward VII hospital.
An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. Unfortunately, it's not possible to save the pregnancy. It usually has to be removed using medicine or an operation.
She has since gone on to have two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, in 2003 and 2007 respectively.
The Duchess has had a longstanding involvement with Thames Valley Air Ambulance and a year after the incident, she personally thanked the crew who flew her to hospital – pilot Andy Busby and paramedic Tim Goddard – at a dinner to raise funds for the service. In 2019, she became the organisation's patron.
© Mark Lord Photography / Thames Valley Air AmbulanceIn what has been described as a "morale boost" by the lifesaving charity, the royal visited its Stokenchurch headquarters on Wednesday, on the back of its "busiest year yet in 2025". The critical care paramedic and doctor crews were called out 3,302 times last year, making it a record-breaking year.
Sophie was given a tour of the facilities, and in the Pre-hospital Education Centre, she watched critical care paramedics and doctors undertake a training scenario and got hands-on with some vital equipment, even practicing a lifesaving intervention herself.
© Mark Lord Photography / Thames Valley Air AmbulanceAmanda McLean, Chief Executive of Thames Valley Air Ambulance, said: "It was an honour to welcome Her Royal Highness back to Thames Valley Air Ambulance headquarters.
"A former patient as well as our Royal Patron, the Duchess has always been passionate about our mission to give everyone in the region the best possible chance of survival and recovery.
© Mark Lord Photography / Thames Valley Air Ambulance"It was fantastic to be able to show the Duchess our expanded facilities and give Her Royal Highness an insight into the training our crews undertake.
© Mark Lord Photography / Thames Valley Air Ambulance"The visit follows a very busy year for our crews. We never forget that every single mission we attend is funded by the generosity of our supporters. So, as we release our 2025 statistics, I’d like to say a big thank you to the public for keeping us on the frontline of saving lives for another year."
