Duchess Sophie Proves Maroon Is the New Black After She Delivers a "Morale Boost" to Organization That Saved Her Life

The Duchess of Edinburgh bundled up in head-to-toe burgundy.

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Duchess Sophie wearing a maroon dress and coat pressing a button on a wall
(Image credit: Alamy)

Duchess Sophie has been hitting the ground running in the New Year, penning a powerful essay about the war in Sudan and visiting a number of her patronages since her first royal engagement of 2026 on January 9. On Thursday, January 15, the duchess joined husband Prince Edward for a special day out in Rotherham, England, debuting a new burgundy outfit a day after visiting the heroes of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited Skills Street, a space that allows young people to discover careers through interactive play, learning about the facility and taking part in a hands-on flight simulator. For their visit, Sophie chose a new burgundy dress by Reiss, wearing the brand's cozy Belted Knit Pleated Midi Dress—which happens to be more than 50 percent off at the moment.

She covered up with a long maroon wool coat, keeping the burgundy theme going with pointy wine-colored boots and a new crossbody bag by one of her favorite brands, Sophie Habsburg.

Duchess Sophie wearing a maroon coat and bag pressing a button on a colorful wall

Duchess Sophie dressed in head-to-toe burgundy for her visit to Skills Street with Prince Edward.

(Image credit: Alamy)

Duchess Sophie walking into a building with Prince Edward wearing a long maroon coat

The duchess wore a long maroon coat with a coordinating dress.

(Image credit: Alamy)

Princess Kate is also a huge fan of burgundy. She's worn the color to a number of recent events, but Kate opted for a brighter red hue on Thursday when she wore a bold Alexander McQueen suit for a reception at Windsor Castle.

On Wednesday, Duchess Sophie turned to business-like brown separates, wearing a blazer and herringbone-patterned Victoria Beckham trousers to visit the Thames Valley Air Ambulance headquarters.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, who received emergency surgery in 2001 after being airlifted for an ectopic pregnancy, has credited the ambulance's crew for their role in saving her life. On Thursday, she visited its headquarters, meeting with employees and even trying out CPR on a dummy. The visit was called a "morale boost" for the organization, which helped a record-breaking number of patients in 2025.

"As a former patient and our Royal Patron, The Duchess has always been passionate about our mission and the work our charity does every day," the Thames Valley Air Ambulance wrote on Instagram. "We are truly honoured to have been able to welcome her and share how her continued support keeps us at the frontline of saving lives."

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Kristin Contino
Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.