Duchess of Edinburgh beams as she affectionately greets Steve Darling’s beloved information canine Jennie at Buckingham Palace reception for brand spanking new MPs
The Duchess of Edinburgh greeted the ‘leader of the Opawsition’ with affectionate pats as Steve Darling’s guide dog Jennie accompanied the Lib Dem MP for a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
Sophie, 60, joined her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh at the reception held by King Charles and Queen Camilla to welcome new Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords on January 29.
For the occasion, Sophie picked an elegant white maxi dress with long sleeves that she paired with beige kitten heels and gold jewellery – including a dainty necklace and patterned hoop earrings.
While Sophie was poised as she spoke with attendees, she could not resist kneeling down to give Jennie a pat on the neck as the golden retriever – who has become somewhat of an internet celebrity – basked in the attention.
Jennie belongs to Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, Steve Darling, and has previously been dubbed the ‘best politician in parliament’ after winning hearts thanks to adorable pictures of her online.
Darling was elected as for the MP for Torbay, in the south of England, during the election in July.
Dubbed ‘Britain’s most famous guide dog‘, Jennie has become a social media sensation since photographs of her napping during PMQs sent the internet into a meltdown.
Parliament’s ‘golden girl’ also has a social media fan page called ‘Rt Hon Jennie’ that has nearly 20,000 followers.

The Duchess of Edinburgh greeted the ‘leader of the Opawsition’ with affectionate pats as Steve Darling’s guide dog Jennie accompanied the Lib Dem MP for a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday
Sophie’s love of dogs is well-known; she has three pooches of her own, including a Cocker Spaniel called Mole and two black Labradors, Teal and Teasel, and is a patron of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
Jennie first made headlines after it was revealed she had survived a vicious XL Bully attack in 2023.
At the time, Darling, who is registered blind, said it took himself and three others to pull the XL Bully away from Jennie while recalling the ‘traumatic’ incident’.
‘Sadly, it just went straight for the throat,’ Darling told the BBC at the time.
‘It ended up being on the floor and screaming – something I never want to hear again in my life. I ended up wrestling with both dogs on the floor, [there was] no sign of the owner.
‘We ended up having four people trying to get the dog off of Jennie. We then managed to get Jennie behind a gate while I just lay on the floor on top of this dog to hold it down, and it was really quite traumatic.’
Since recovering from the attack, Jennie has become a permanent fixture at PMQs – much to the delight of her fans.
The Buckingham Palace reception was attended by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch, as well as Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage, who Sophie was seen chatting with.

For the occasion, Sophie picked an elegant white maxi dress with long sleeves that she paired with beige kitten heels and gold jewellery – including a dainty necklace and patterned hoop earrings. She is photographed here in conversation with Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt

Dog lover Sophie also spent some time with Darling’s guide dog Jennie, who has become something of an internet sensation

The Duchess in conversation with Munt, the Lib Dem MP for Wells and Mendip Hills

The Duchess of Edinburgh seen speaking to Labour MP for Doncaster and Isle of Axholme, Lee Pitcher, during the reception hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla

Elsewhere at the event, Sophie was seen speaking to Reform UK’s Leader and Deputy Leader, Nigel Farage (left) and Richard Tice (Centre) respectively
She was also photographed in conversation with Liberal Democrat MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, Tessa Munt and Labour (Co-op) MPs Helena Dollimore and Alice Macdonald and Lee Pitcher.
This reception was held on the same day that Buckingham Palace introduced the newest member of the Royal Family.
In a statement, the palace confirmed Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi had welcomed their second child together, daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, last week.
‘Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are delighted to announce the safe arrival of their daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born on Wednesday, 22nd January, at 12:57pm.
‘The baby was born weighing 4 pounds and 5 ounces,’ the statement read.
‘The King and Queen, and other members of The Royal Family have all been informed and are delighted with the news.
‘Princess Beatrice and Mr Mapelli Mozzi would like to thank all the staff at the hospital for their wonderful care.

Princess Beatrice has given birth to a daughter, Athena Elizabeth Rose, Buckingham Palace has announced
‘Her Royal Highness and her daughter are healthy and doing well, and the family are enjoying spending time together with Athena’s older siblings, Wolfie and Sienna.’
Forty-year-old Edo, also posting on Instagram, revealed his new daughter was ‘tiny and absolutely perfect’.
He wrote on Instagram sharing a photograph of Athena wrapped in a blanket: ‘Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.
‘We welcomed baby Athena into our lives last week. She is tiny and absolutely perfect.
‘We are all (including Wolfie and Sienna) already completely besotted with her.
‘Our hearts are overflowing with love for you, baby Athena.
‘A massive thank you from my wife and I goes out to all the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their exceptional care and support during this incredibly special time.’
Reposting the baby announcement on her Instagram story, Athena’s aunt Princess Eugenie wrote ‘welcome baby girl’.

Princess Beatrice, 36, waves at crowds as she arrives at St Mary Magdalene Church accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf ‘Wolfie’ Mapelli Mozzi

Beatrice, who fondly refers to Wolfie as her ‘bonus child’, placed a loving hand on the eight-year-old’s back
Athena Elizabeth, whose middle name is no doubt a sweet tribute to Beatrice’s late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, adds to the Mapelli Mozzi brood which also includes three-year-old Sienna and Edo’s son from a previous relationship to Dara Huang, ‘Wolfie’ – often referred to as Princess Beatrice’s ‘bonus’ child.
The Princess of York’s last public appearance was on Christmas Day in Sandringham where she joined the royal family for their annual trip to St Mary Magadalene Church.
Looking effortlessly elegant, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter joined other Royal Family members, such as King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the occasion.
She was accompanied by her husband Edo and Wolfie.