Duchess of Edinburgh Royal Patron of Spruce Meadows

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh has become Royal Patron of Spruce Meadows, the renowned Canadian show jumping venue, in Calgary, Alberta.

The Duchess of Edinburgh’s patronage recognizes not only Spruce Meadows’ dedication to sporting excellence and development, but also the widespread community and charitable initiatives aimed at enriching people’s lives through the support of amateur and grassroots sports, health and wellness, education, frontline workers, equality for women, military, agriculture, and more, which align with many causes Her Royal Highness advocates for.

Welcoming the announcement, Spruce Meadows President and CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott, whose parents, Ron and Margaret Southern, officially opened the venue in 1975, said:

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“My family and I, together with all the people who make up Spruce Meadows, are deeply honoured that Her Royal Highness has taken on Spruce Meadows as a Royal Patronage.

“The Duchess of Edinburgh is a wonderful example of grace, leadership, dedication and someone for whom I have great personal admiration. The Royal Patronage is a true gift, as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and look ahead to a meaningful future, continuing our expansion into a full-scale Sports and Entertainment District for all to enjoy.”

The pairing also celebrates the much-cherished bond between Great Britain and Canada, a legacy formerly acknowledged by The late Queen Elizabeth II, who visited Spruce Meadows in 1990 to inaugurate an event in her name.

As Spruce Meadows celebrates its 50th Anniversary, the Southerns reflect on the last five decades of shaping the former cattle feedlot into one of the top equestrian facilities in the world, all with a view of making show jumping accessible to people from all walks of life.

The Duchess of Edinburgh previously visited Spruce Meadows, with her husband Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh, in 2006, in their former roles as The Earl and Countess of Wessex. The Duchess enthusiastically supports a number of the United Kingdom’s national teams and sports bodies and is Royal Vice President of the Royal Windsor Horse Show and President of the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials.

Spruce Meadows and the Southerns look forward to welcoming their new Royal Patron at a future visit.