The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh brought their three-day Portuguese tour to a close with a traditional port wine ceremony at Graham’s Port Lodge in Porto.
Following a countdown, Sophie took the lead in splashing port over a wooden cask, with Edward following suit moments later in the time-honoured “baptism” ritual.
The royal couple join a distinguished list of visitors who have participated in this custom, most recently the Duke of Kent.
When presented with an impressively large bottle of port during the visit, the Duchess quipped: “We could swim in it!”
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh brought their three-day Portuguese tour to a close with a traditional port wine ceremony at Graham’s Port Lodge in Porto.
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GETTY
The ceremony provided a memorable finale to a trip that had seen the pair travel from Lisbon to Porto, marking the enduring friendship between Britain and Portugal.
Earlier that day, the couple had been bestowed with one of Porto’s most prestigious accolades at the Town Hall, where a guard of honour awaited them.
Mayor Pedro Duarte extended a warm welcome, declaring: “We are celebrating not only a nation’s friendship but also a shared commitment to freedom, the rule of law and the values that bring our people together.”
The Keys to the City represents an exceptional distinction, having been presented to merely nine individuals over the past five years, among them French President Emmanuel Macron.
The royal couple join a distinguished list of visitors who have participated in this custom, most recently the Duke of Kent.
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GETTY
Prince Edward expressed his gratitude, noting it was Sophie’s inaugural visit to Porto and describing the gesture as “a token of immense trust”, adding that they were “deeply honoured”.
The Duke also made time to visit the Oporto British School, the oldest British educational institution on the European continent, for a Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Open Day.
Edward took on the role of patron for the youth organisation in 2023, succeeding his late father in the position.
During his time at the school, he assisted students preparing for their Gold expedition, the Award’s most challenging level, helping one group erect a tent.
In a light-hearted exchange with a pupil who confessed to losing his way during a previous trip, the Duke offered reassurance: “You didn’t get lost because you are here – you were temporarily misplaced on the map.”
The visit to Portugal served to honour the centuries-old bond between the two nations, a relationship formally established through the Treaty of Windsor in 1386.
This alliance was strengthened the following year when King João of Portugal wed Philippa of Lancaster, who became his Queen.
As part of their Porto itinerary, Edward and Sophie visited the city’s ancient cathedral, the very site where the royal wedding took place in 1387.
The day before, the couple had paid their respects at Batalha Monastery, where the Portuguese King and Queen are interred.
Their tour, which commenced in Lisbon, celebrated the Anglo-Portuguese partnership that continues to flourish today.