Duchess of Edinburgh marks 80 years of Mencap charity

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, attended a reception in London to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Royal Mencap Society. The event, hosted by the Financial Times, marked eight decades since the charity was founded in 1946 by Judy Fryd to support individuals with learning disabilities.

During the celebration, the Duchess met with charity members, ambassadors, and supporters, including 'Strictly Come Dancing' star Ellie Goldstein and 'The Traitors' finalist Alexander Dragonetti. The Duchess engaged with guests, including 80-year-old campaigner Geoffrey Leer, and participated in activities such as a chocolate lollipop station.

As a patron of Mencap since 2002, the Duchess has maintained an active role with the organization, previously participating in virtual marathons and attending health inequality summits to support the 1.5 million people living with learning disabilities in the United Kingdom.