Portraits of the Royal Family are hung in galleries, palaces, official buildings and beyond, right across the UK - and have been for hundreds of years. Usually, these are painted or photographed portraits, with the occasional statue or sculpture here and there. They're often created to mark major events, from battles and coronations to birthdays and milestones of charitable support. This week, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh witnessed a new 'portrait' of herself - but it's in the most unexpected form yet.
On Wednesday (23 September), Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh was presented with an almost unbelievable treat to mark 80 years of the charity Mencap, of which Sophie is patron. During the celebratory event in London, Sophie came face to face with a second Sophie - a miniature version of her head in chocolate form, set on top of a lollipop stick. It's no statue, but perhaps it could pass as a sculpture? The Duchess appeared to be a good humour about the miniature chocolate version of herself, and grinned as she posed side by side with it.
In a post on Instagram, the Royal Family explained that Sophie had 'joined charity members, myth-busters and ambassadors to mark this incredible milestone.' It explained that the charity had spent the past eight decades supporting 'people with a learning disability to live their lives to the full and achieve the things that matter most to them.'
It's been a busy month of engagements for Sophie, who recently returned from Zambia after an official five-day visit to celebrate the relationship between the UK and Republic of Zambia. While there, Sophie met with a range of organisations and charities supporting everything from sight loss to conservation.
The Duchess also had time to enjoy some activities with local people during her visit, with a video shared by the Royal Family showing her dancing and playing basketball. Sophie also had the chance to visit Mosi-oa-Tunya, also known as Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
