The Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, has revealed that the late Queen excused her from dinner at Balmoral in 2016 so she could watch Team GB's women's hockey team win Olympic gold, in a story shared to mark the tenth anniversary of the final. Sophie recounted the anecdote on a special BBC Radio 5 Live programme, describing how the Queen ultimately found the tension of the match too much for herself as well, despite normally remaining composed through diplomatic dinners and national crises.

Sophie told presenters she had been "twitching" through dinner as a staff member whispered updates on the score, prompting the Queen to tell her: "Oh, for goodness' sake, just go," so she could watch the match in the library. Prince Philip later joined her for the tense penalty shoot-out, reportedly more amused by her excited reactions than by the game itself, while the Queen watched briefly from the doorway before finding it too stressful and withdrawing. Great Britain beat the Netherlands 2-0 on penalties to claim their first women's hockey Olympic gold. The programme, also featuring former players Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh, airs on BBC Radio 5 Live at 9pm.