Queen Elizabeth once told Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, to leave a family dinner at Balmoral. Sophie was not in trouble. The late monarch had simply realized there was little chance of keeping her attention at the table while an Olympic gold medal was being decided.
Sophie was desperate to know what was happening in the women’s hockey final at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Great Britain was playing the Netherlands. During a recent BBC Radio 5 Live retrospective, she recalled receiving quiet score updates throughout dinner before the Queen finally released her, according to PEOPLE.
She hurried to the library and resumed watching, with Prince Philip soon joining her. Sophie remembered her father in law as someone who loved good sport, although she suspected he became almost as entertained by her jumping, shouting and reacting to the match as he was by what was happening on television.
Queen Elizabeth eventually appeared in the doorway as the final reached its most nerve racking stage. She stayed long enough to experience some of the tension, but Sophie said the pressure became too much and the Queen took herself away again before Great Britain completed its historic victory.
The Queen Finally Told Sophie, ‘Just Go’
Reliving one of the most unforgettable moments in Team GB history 🇬🇧🥇
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh shares what it was like watching the historic Rio 2016 Women’s Hockey final with her family at Balmoral. pic.twitter.com/KIPQDSCceG
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) August 18, 2026
Sophie had been following Great Britain’s progress throughout the tournament, but the time difference with Rio meant the gold medal match continued during dinner at Balmoral. Someone serving at the table was also a hockey supporter and quietly kept her informed of the score while the royal family ate.
By the end of the meal, Sophie said she was visibly “twitching.” Queen Elizabeth noticed and eventually told her, “Oh, for goodness’ sake, just go!” Sophie immediately headed for the library to find out what was happening, as the BBC Sport account of the anniversary program also detailed.
The exchange was less a royal dismissal than permission from someone who could see that Sophie’s attention was already elsewhere. She had been patron of England Hockey since 2006 and was deeply invested in the women’s attempt to win Britain’s first Olympic hockey gold.
Prince Philip Stayed While the Queen Found the Pressure Too Much
Prince Philip followed Sophie into the library and settled down to watch the conclusion. Sophie remembered that he loved good sport, but she joked that he may have been nearly as interested in her reactions as he was in the match itself. She was leaping up, shouting and becoming increasingly animated as the contest tightened.
The drawing room was next door, and Sophie eventually noticed Queen Elizabeth standing in the doorway watching what was happening. The Queen remained for part of the drama but did not share Sophie’s appetite for the tension. “She couldn’t cope with the pressure,” Sophie recalled. “She had to take herself away again.”
Prince Philip stayed with Sophie, laughing at her reactions while she remained completely absorbed in the final. Sophie later remembered becoming emotional as Great Britain moved closer to a victory that had never previously been achieved by the country’s women’s team.
Great Britain Won Gold After a Dramatic Shootout
The final finished 3 to 3 after regulation, with Lily Owsley, Crista Cullen and Nicola White scoring for Great Britain. The Netherlands had won Olympic gold in both 2008 and 2012, leaving the British team facing the two time defending champions in the decisive shootout.
Great Britain won that shootout 2 to 0. Goalkeeper Maddie Hinch denied every Dutch attempt, while Helen Richardson Walsh and Hollie Pearne Webb converted Britain’s successful efforts. Pearne Webb’s finish secured the country’s first women’s Olympic hockey gold and completed an unbeaten tournament for Great Britain.
Sophie said she was in tears as the result sank in. Prince Philip was still beside her enjoying the spectacle, while Queen Elizabeth had already decided that the final stages contained quite enough suspense for one evening.
Sophie Has Remained Closely Connected to Hockey
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Sophie’s investment in the Rio final was hardly that of a casual viewer. She has served as patron of England Hockey since 2006 and remains actively involved with the sport. In January 2026, she visited England and Great Britain training sessions at Bisham Abbey, met members of both senior squads and joined the women’s players on the pitch for shooting practice, according to England Hockey.
The BBC Radio 5 Live retrospective, titled Hockey’s Heroes, 10 Years On, brought together memories from Olympic champions including Kate and Helen Richardson Walsh, Alex Danson Bennett, Maddie Hinch and Lily Owsley. Sophie joined the program to revisit watching the final with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Balmoral and to reflect on the significance of the team’s achievement.
Ten years later, some of Sophie’s clearest memories remain distinctly personal: whispered score updates during dinner, the Queen finally telling her to go, Prince Philip laughing beside her and a penalty shootout that even Queen Elizabeth decided was too stressful to watch.