The Royal Family has once again gathered at Balmoral Castle for their annual summer vacation, and along with King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince William and Princess Kate, one of the more low-key royals was photographed attending church in Crathie Kirk, Scotland on Sunday, August 23.

Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward’s daughter, Lady Louise, joined aunt Princess Anne and uncle Sir Tim Laurence, riding in the backseat next to her parents as they headed to Sunday services. The 22-year-old recently followed in William and Kate’s footsteps by graduating from the University of St Andrews, but unlike her cousins Harry and William in the early 2000s, Louise keeps a much lower profile, according to royal experts.

“Somehow the youngest royals have turned out to be the biggest homebodies and the least likely to make the headlines,” one royal source told the Telegraph. “You can hardly imagine Louise or her boyfriend falling out of nightclubs like her older cousins.”

Lady Louise was first pictured with fellow St Andrews alum Felix da Silva-Clamp in 2024, and he’s been a regular fixture at her carriage driving competitions over the years, even joining Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward for an August performance at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Insiders have told the Telegraph that Louise and Felix are very low-key and “normal,” and instead of hitting the London clubs like Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry did in their younger days, the most “raucous” place you’re likely to find the young couple is on the Scottish dancing scene.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the outlet that Lady Louise and her 18-year-old brother James, Earl of Wessex, “are clearly of conservative tendencies” and prefer a quieter existence.

As for Louise and Felix, “They look like a very normal, well-suited couple who have been able to lead normal university lives and develop common interests,” another expert shared.

Duchess Sophie has served as patron of England Hockey, the country’s national field hockey team, for the past two decades, and it seems nothing would stop her from watching the women win gold at the Olympics—even a formal dinner at Balmoral Castle.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live to mark a decade since the team’s exciting win, the Duchess of Edinburgh recalled the hilarious moment when Queen Elizabeth excused her from a meal in Scotland. The gold medal game during the 2016 Rio Olympics happened to be on during dinner, and Sophie had no choice but to stop watching and eat with Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the family.

“Actually, somebody who was helping at the table who’s an avid hockey fan kept on coming in and whispering the score to me,” she shared with a laugh. “I was twitching, and eventually Her Majesty sat there and said, ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, just go!’”

The duchess said she “ran through to the library” to catch the rest of the game, sharing that Prince Philip—”who loved good sport” ended up joining her. “I think he was watching my reaction more than he was watching the television because I was literally living and breathing every moment,” Sophie shared.

Admitting that she was “leaping up and screaming and everything,” despite the drawing room being right next to the library, Duchess Sophie said she realized the late Queen had “come through and she was standing in the doorway watching.”

However, when the gold medal game went into penalties, Queen Elizabeth had to leave. “She couldn’t cope with pressure,” the duchess said. “She had to take herself away again. She couldn’t cope with it.”

England eventually won against the Netherlands, and Sophie said her reaction amused her late father-in-law. The duchess got so excited that she shared Prince Philip “was laughing at me,” explaining she was “in floods of tears, leaping up and down, screeching” over England’s win.

Duchess Sophie is one of the hardest working members of the Royal Family, and she’s now taken on a patronage with a very personal meaning. On August 17, Buckingham Palace announced that the Duchess of Edinburgh has been named the new patron of Visualise Scotland, a charity that helps adults living with visual impairment and other disabilities in the Edinburgh region.

To mark the occasion, Sophie posed for a new portrait snapped by Millie Pilkington, a photographer that often takes pictures for Prince William, Princess Kate and their children. In another tie to the Princess of Wales, Duchess Sophie wore an elegant ivory dress by Beulah London, one of their shared favorite brands.

The duchess chose a trumpet-sleeved ivory design she’s worn previously, with the dress featuring long, flared sleeves and button detail marching down the skirt. Princess Kate has worn a similar green version of the dress, but hers included slimmer long sleeves.

Sophie accessorized the dress with her Chopard diamond circle pendant and a pair of gold hoops, but it was her nail polish that stood out in the photo.

Members of the Royal Family often go without polish or choose barely-there colors, but the Duchess of Edinburgh wore a dark, plummy brown shade in her portrait that's perfect for fall.

Visualise Scotland's mission is deeply personal to the duchess. When Sophie's eldest child, Lady Louise, was born, she was diagnosed with an eye condition called esotropia, which was corrected with surgery when she was a child. The Duchess of Edinburgh has made preventable blindness one of the causes she's championed over the years, and she holds a role as global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

As for her new manicure, fingers crossed for more bold shades from Sophie this fall.

More often than not, Duchess Sophie sticks to a reliable formula when it comes to summer workwear, leaning into patterned midi dresses with espadrilles. It’s a uniform that works for both casual and more formal royal events, and on Thursday, August 13, she braved temperatures in the high nineties to attend the 2026 European Athletics Championships with Prince Edward in Birmingham, England.

What do you wear to an outdoor event when it’s pushing 100 degrees? For Sophie, it’s a pair of her tried-and-true Penelope Chilvers espadrille wedges and a loose cotton shirt dress by one of her favorite brands, Lexy London.

The small, woman-owned British label focuses on slow fashion and ethical production, with their pieces featuring bespoke, hand-block-printed patterns. Sophie’s dress showed off one of Lexy London’s unique designs, with her blue, white and green paisley midi dress topped off with slightly puffed sleeves and a belted waist.

The Duchess of Edinburgh carried the same Strathberry raffia Mosaic Nano bag owned by Zara Tindall, but Sophie's featured brown leather trim instead of Zara's white version. The duchess previously carried the summery style twice in July, and if it looks familiar, it's because Princess Kate owns the same bag in an ivory shade and Princess Beatrice has carried it in black.

Sophie and Edward’s appearance at the championships comes on a big day for their family. This morning, Buckingham Palace announced that their son James, the Earl of Wessex, will be continuing his studies at the Royal Agricultural University.

The 18-year-old recently graduated from high school and will not be taking a gap year, choosing to head straight to university to study rural land and property management.

Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward’s son James, the Earl of Wessex, recently graduated high school, and after Buckingham Palace announced his future plans, his hands-on summer job explains a lot. The Sun recently revealed that James, 18, was secretly working as a farmhand on King Charles’s Sandringham estate this summer driving tractors, much to the shock of fellow workers. But it turns out that his gig has everything to do with his college major.

“Having achieved the grades he needed, The Earl of Wessex will be going to the Royal Agricultural University to study Rural Land & Property Management,” a statement from the palace read.

While many royals take a gap year between high school and university, the palace noted that James “will head straight there without taking a year out.”

The soon-to-be college freshman chose not to follow in his big sister Lady Louise’s footsteps by attending the University of St Andrews, but James is taking on an interest shared by St Andrews alumnus Prince William.

In 2014, William completed an agricultural and land management course at the University of Cambridge to prepare for his roles as the Prince of Wales and King. Currently, he manages the Duchy of Cornwall estate, which spans more than 130,000 acres, and when he becomes King, he’ll be in charge of the Duchy of Lancaster.

However, unlike Prince William, James is not a working royal and is not expected to be in the future, meaning he’s free to pursue his own career path once he graduates from university.

As for his summer job, a Sandringham estate worker told the Sun that they were impressed by James's drive. “He might be The King’s nephew but he is more than happy to get his hands dirty and muck in,” the staffer said. “Driving tractors around Sandringham is not an easy task and it can mean long hours. But it doesn’t matter how rich you are, learning a good work ethic at a young age can always help.”

The Sandringham estate might be best known lately as the home of disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, but another member of the Royal Family has been spotted hard at work in Norfolk this summer. According to the Sun, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie’s 18-year-old son James, the Earl of Wessex, has taken on a summer job helping out as a farmhand at the estate, much to the shock of staffers.

“Everyone is so used to only seeing James smartly turned out with his family at functions at Christmas and Easter so I had to do a double take,” one estate worker said after spotting James riding a tractor.

“He might be The King’s nephew but he is more than happy to get his hands dirty and muck in,” the staffer added. “Driving tractors around Sandringham is not an easy task and it can mean long hours. But it doesn’t matter how rich you are, learning a good work ethic at a young age can always help.”

James, who just graduated from secondary school at Radley College this summer, will be receiving the results of his A-levels next week, the rigorous tests used in the U.K. to determine university placement.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have not made any announcements about their son's future plans, although it's been rumored he'll be taking a gap year.

The Earl of Wessex isn't the only member of Sophie and Edward's family to take on a regular job before heading off to college. His big sister, Lady Louise, worked at a garden center to earn extra money ahead of her time at the University of St Andrews, and she recently took on a job helping out at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Duchess Sophie is one of the hardest-working members of the Royal Family, and on Monday, August 10 it was announced that she’s been named the new patron of a charity that ties heavily into one of Prince Harry’s greatest passions.

Sophie will now be working with the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST), and she hit the indoor slopes at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, England to celebrate the news. The organization uses snow sports to accelerate the physical and emotional recovery of wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans.

Through adaptive sports like snowboarding, alpine and nordic skiing, the AFPST helps gives participants “a renewed sense of purpose and independence as they work towards individual and shared goals”—a very similar mission as Prince Harry’s Invictus Games.

The Duchess of Edinburgh looked in her element as she skied alongside AFPST participants and learned more about how the organization has given military personnel and veterans an increased sense of community and purpose.

Prince Harry has been carrying out the same work through the Invictus Games, which will take place in Birmingham, England in July 2027. Although the U.K. will host a summer games, the organization held its first Invictus Winter Games in 2025, and with Sophie’s new role, it opens the opportunity for her to attend a future winter event.

The duchess's husband, Prince Edward, also has a strong interest in para sports as the patron of the British Paralympic Association, a role he's held for more than 20 years. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have taken part in many of the Paralympic Games and traveled to the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, giving Sophie the opportunity to meet ParalympicsGB athletes ahead of her new role.

As for whether any members of the Royal Family attend Invictus 2027, watch this space.

Labor Day is nearly a month away, and here on the East Coast it doesn’t feel like we’ll be getting a break from the hot and humid weather anytime soon. Dressing for the office (or quite frankly, anywhere) these days can be a challenge, but there’s one member of the Royal Family I look to when it comes to effortless summer style—and it’s not Princess Kate.

Duchess Sophie might not have started out as the most stylish royal when she married Prince Edward in 1999, but over the past decade, she’s steadily become one of the best-dressed members of the Royal Family. I’ve been introduced to brands like Aspiga, Sophie Habsburg and Lexy London because of the Duchess of Edinburgh, and her easy, breezy summer style formula has never failed me once.

Her uniform for hot days? A printed midi or maxi dress and comfortable espadrille wedges.

Duchess Sophie has worn the combination to everything from official visits abroad to a recording session for BBC Radio’s “The Archers” this summer. The royal is partial to British heritage brand Penelope Chilvers, but she’s also worn espadrilles from labels like Jimmy Choo and TOMS in recent months.

I stopped by one of Penelope Chilvers's London boutiques when I was in town for Trooping the Colour this June, and of course, I had to pick up the same tan suede pair of low wedges frequently worn by the duchess.

There's something about an espadrille that just screams summer, and for me, wedges are so much more comfortable—and dare I say more stable—than the kitten-heeled flip flops everyone is wearing at the moment.

Another tip I took from the Duchess of Edinburgh is wearing organic cotton dresses by sustainably-focused brand Aspiga, and the label's super-soft styles have quickly become a favorite. I wore a patriotic white dress with a blue and red pattern to Trooping the Colour this year and it kept me cool in the sun while bringing in lots of compliments—and as a bonus, it has pockets. What more could you want in an outfit?

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Before he met Duchess Sophie, Prince Edward dated musical theater star Ruthie Henshall for five years, and she shared some of the stories from their relationship in her new book, The Showgirl and the Prince. During a recent appearance on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch program, Henshall discussed her new memoir and her time dating Prince Edward, noting that marrying into the Royal Family “was never going to work.”

The West End performer revealed (via Hello!) that Edward once told her that “in a perfect world” he would have “two wives: one for the job, and one for the woman you loved—because you wouldn't want the woman you love [to go] through the job.”

By “the job,” he meant being a full-time working member of the Royal Family, and Henshall knew that her career as a singer, dancer and actress couldn’t continue if she married Prince Edward. “It was never going to work,” she said.

The actress wasn’t willing to give up her career, and after their breakup, Edward met public relations executive Sophie Rhys-Jones, now the Duchess of Edinburgh. Sophie eventually quit her PR job to take on full-time royal charity work, but for Henshall, it wasn’t an option.

The performer told Hello!’s “A Right Royal Podcast” that she “always thought we'd find a way,” and even made comparisons to the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson’s situation. “I thought this could be the greatest role of my life,” she said of potentially marrying Edward, but explained that she ultimately decided she “was born to sing, dance and act.”

“If I'd have given it up, I would have been miserable,” she admitted. “It's not my kind of life.”

Queen Elizabeth once stormed out on her sister after she shushed her during an episode of the iconic BBC Radio drama "The Archers," and Princess Margaret was such a fan of the show that she once played herself in a 1984 guest role. Four decades later, Duchess Sophie is slipping into Margaret's shoes for her own starring moment on the radio soap opera—and wowing fans with her acting skills.

"🚨 The Archers spoiler alert! 🚨 Last night Ambridge welcomed a very special visitor to The Borchester Show, no other than Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh," a Reel shared by BBC Radio 4 and the Royal Family read. "Take a look at The Duchess in rehearsal with the cast as she makes her Archers debut."

In the clip, Duchess Sophie wears a blue patterned Beulah London dress and a pair of her beloved Penelope Chilvers espadrilles as she stands in front of a microphone at the broadcaster's Birmingham studios, reading off her lines with "The Archers" actress Susie Riddell.

Along with Princess Margaret, Sophie followed in husband Prince Edward's acting footsteps, and fans couldn't get over how natural she appeared during the rehearsal.

"She's good 😊 Must have got tips from Edward after his youthful thespian days! ❤️" one Instagram user commented on the Reel. Another wrote, "Rehearsal? This sounds flawless! The duchess is a natural."

The agricultural soap opera has been running since 1950, and while Duchess Sophie traveled to Birmingham to record her "Archers" episode, Princess Margaret went very on-brand with her '80s guest role, having a recording studio set up at Kensington Palace.

The University of St Andrews is a special place for the Royal Family, and on Thursday, July 2, another royal graduated from the Scottish university. Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward were there to cheer on their eldest child, Lady Louise Windsor, as she received her diploma from the same university where Prince William met Princess Kate.

Since she doesn’t have a title or take on official duties, the Royal Family rarely comments on 22-year-old Lady Louise, but the palace shared a photo of the new graduate and her family on its official Instagram account Thursday.

“🎓Congratulations to Lady Louise on her graduation from St Andrews University!” the caption read. “Lady Louise was joined by her parents, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as they celebrated the end of her degree.”

In photos taken by the university, Louise poses in her graduation gown, wearing a crisp white shirt and a long skirt underneath and accessorizing with turquoise beaded drop earrings and a matching necklace.

The new graduate also wore a heart bracelet and, keeping in royal tradition, a pinky signet ring. In a second photo, Lady Louise poses with her parents, with the Duke of Edinburgh dressed in a smart suit and Duchess Sophie wearing a blue printed maxi dress and a navy blazer along with a pair of her beloved Penelope Chilvers espadrille wedges.

Like Princess Anne, Edward and Sophie chose not to give their children prince or princess titles, and Lady Louise is not expected to take on full-time royal duties in the future. In a video shared by Hello! magazine, Louise walks across the stage for her big moment, with the royal announced as "Louise Mountbatten-Windsor."

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been staying out of the spotlight since he was evicted from Royal Lodge and moved to the Sandringham estate earlier this year, but over the weekend, the former Duke of York made his first public appearance of 2026 while supporting two senior members of the Royal Family.

The ex-duke was spotted attending the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials on Sunday, June 28, where Duchess Sophie was competing. Her husband, Prince Edward, was also at the equestrian event, although the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's daughter, Lady Louise, who typically competes in the carriage driving trials, didn't attend this year.

In photos shared by the Sun, Andrew is wearing a light blue shirt and sunglasses as he drives himself home from the event in his Land Rover. An onlooker told the publication that “Andrew sneaked in and sneaked out and definitely didn’t want to be seen.”

“But I saw Andrew leave the field at 10:30 a.m., just after Sophie had ridden her round, then I saw Edward walking towards his car smiling shortly afterwards,” the attendee added.

The Sandringham Horse Driving Trials were created by Prince Philip in 1982, and both the Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Louise have followed in his footsteps with their love of the sport. Sophie took part in the "SanDrivingHam" Challenge, showing off her carriage driving skills on the estate.

Prince Edward, dressed casually in a green polo shirt, was not seen interacting with his brother, but is reported to be staying at Wood Farm, where Andrew previously lived on the estate before moving to his permanent home, Marsh Farm.

Duchess Sophie paid a visit to the Channel Islands this week, and during her time in Jersey, she beat the heat in some summery outfits, including one of her recent favorite blouses. The Duchess of Edinburgh has long been a fan of Penelope Chilvers shoes, and she turned to one of the brand’s puffed-sleeve cotton blouses as temperatures soared into the high nineties across the U.K.

On the first day of her trip, Sophie paired ivory jeans with the same Penelope Chilvers “Monday” blouse she debuted in late May. The short-sleeved shirt features a blue-and-yellow floral pattern, a relaxed silhouette and ruffled detail covering its button placket and at the neck—ideal for a sunny day in the islands.

When I was in London last week, I headed to a Penelope Chilvers boutique to try on Sophie’s blouse—and their famous espadrilles—and the top's pretty floral print and incredibly soft cotton makes it a piece that's perfect for everything from vacations to summer office wear.

Although Sophie wears her Penelope Chilvers wedges on repeat, she chose a slip-on pair of TOMS espadrilles as she visited a farm and took a spin on a fishing boat on June 23. The Duchess of Edinburgh accessorized her outfit with her Asprey oak leaf bracelet, Giulia Barela gold hoop earrings and Sting Eyewear sunglasses.

Later in the week, Sophie kept cool in a comfy pink dress by Lexy London, wearing the British brand's Tara style. The 100-percent cotton style features puffed sleeves with a tiered skirt and drawstring waist, with the company's designs all hand-crafted in India.

The Duchess of Edinburgh paired her summery style with metallic Jimmy Choo espadrille wedges, her Asprey bracelet and Adore Jewels diamond drop earrings—and I'll be copying her easy, breezy look all summer.

Royal Ascot is here once again, and nothing says race day like a fabulous hat. Each year, members of the Royal Family gather for the most anticipated week of British racing, and fans eagerly await to see what Princess Kate, Queen Camilla, Duchess Sophie and other royals will wear. And while their gorgeous dresses always make a statement, it’s the hats that truly stand out.

Whether it’s a straw boater, a whimsical fascinator or a sleek pillbox, milliners tell Marie Claire that even though Royal Ascot has a strict dress code, there’s room for contemporary style—even for the royals.

Duchess Sophie's go-to milliner, Jane Taylor, says that for members of the Royal Family, hats take on a different meaning at Ascot. “Unlike state visits or weddings, where millinery is designed to show respect and ensure the face is entirely visible, the Royal Meeting is more theatrical,” she says. “It is the one event where the hat isn't just an accessory—it is the central piece in the outfit.”

“Few events in the world place such importance on hats and headpieces, creating an incredible opportunity for creativity and craftsmanship,” adds Merve Bayindir, who runs her eponymous luxury hat brand.

Combining the rules of the royal enclosure with modern style is a challenge that milliners welcome. “Restrictions can lead to the best creativity,” Taylor says. “The balance lies in marrying heritage craftsmanship with a modern silhouette.”

Lalage Beaumont, who creates hats along with luxury handbags and occasionwear, adds that while the royal enclosure does have guidelines on headpieces, “it is all about fun for Ascot—as long as the base of the hat is four inches or more.”

For custom-made hats, some clients start placing orders as early as February, says Sarah Haynes of Somerset Millinery. Haynes, who has designed for Zara Tindall, explains that the design process for members of the Royal Family starts “months ahead.”

“Everything is really organized because outfits are set months in advance, so hats have to be dyed to match or fabric samples might be sent out to match,” she explains.

In terms of the trends we might expect to see on the royals and other racegoers this year, Taylor says blue is going to be one of the major color trends, along with “reimagined” pillbox hats and “a clear shift toward bold, floating compositions of feathers and sculptural organza orchids.”

Beaumont points to boater hats “becoming more popular, but with a wider brim and a very shallow crown,” with Haynes agreeing that boaters were popular with her clients last year, “and they seem to be very in again this year.” Bayindir says that sustainability is also becoming key, with the milliner noting, “There is also a growing interest in versatility; clients are increasingly looking for designs they can wear beyond a single occasion.”

Members of the Royal Family have long been supporters of the British millinery industry, and Haynes says that, in turn, helps trickle down to members of the public. “I think hat wearing in the last few years has become a lot more popular than it was,” she says. “Now we like dressing up again. Ascot, whatever class you're from, whatever your budget is, absolutely everybody at Ascot makes an effort. A hat is part of that.”

At the end of the day, Royal Ascot provides a unique opportunity to put British craftsmanship on display. “I think milliners play a hugely important [role] in the image all the ladies of the Royal Family portray,” Beaumont tells Marie Claire. “When one thinks of our wonderful late Queen, you always think of her in a hat, and generally a very colorful one. The variety of amazing hats that are worn at every royal event carry on this tradition, all of them made by British millinery ateliers continuing this fabulous craft.”

Members of the British Royal Family attended Trooping the Colour 2026 at Buckingham Palace on June 13. For the occasion, Princess Kate wore a baby blue Catherine Walker coat dress, which drew comparisons to a very similar Princess Diana outfit. Meanwhile, Duchess Sophie styled a white dress—featuring a collar and short sleeves—from a brand beloved by both Meghan Markle and the Princess of Wales.

Arriving by carriage at the ceremony, which commemorates the monarch's unofficial birthday, Duchess Sophie could be seen dressed in a white dress and a matching hat. Prince Edward's wife opted for Roland Mouret's Short Sleeve Collar Heavy Cady Midi Dress in White. Sadly, the chic dress has already sold out, and it's easy to see why.

Duchess Sophie accessorized her dress with a feather-trimmed hat in the same shade from Jane Taylor London.

Princess Kate recently wore a similar dress from French designer Roland Mouret when she attended Harriet Sperling and Peter Phillips's royal wedding on June 6. Although the Princess of Wales's dress was made from a heavier bouclé material, both dresses feature sharp collars and tailoring.

As well as receiving Princess Kate's seal of approval, Roland Mouret has a longstanding friendship with Meghan Markle, which predates the duchess joining the Royal Family. Clearly, the designer is a firm favorite within royal circles.

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With a smaller group of working royals around him, Prince William will need to rely on his family’s support more than ever when he becomes King. Unlike Queen Elizabeth or King Charles, the Prince of Wales, 43, doesn’t have a balcony full of siblings or even cousins with full-time royal roles. But two people he can always count on are his uncle, Prince Edward, and aunt, Duchess Sophie—and they’ve been taking on an increasingly visible role in the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have been traveling to Portugal on behalf of King Charles this week, and the monarch’s brother and sister-in-law have taken on more responsibilities in the nearly four years since Queen Elizabeth’s death.

Speaking to Betfair Casino, body language expert Darren Stanton says Sophie, in particular, appears to have “grown into the role” and is “entirely at ease” with her increased royal duties.

“She carries herself exceptionally well,” Stanton says of Duchess Sophie. Whether it’s speaking on behalf of the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda or attending an agricultural fair with Prince William, the duchess is “comfortable being the center of attention,” the body language expert shares.

“Sophie and Edward seem to be growing steadily into a more prominent position within the Royal Family,” he continues. Although Prince Edward is the naturally more introverted of the pair, together, they “work as a team,” Stanton adds.

When Prince William takes the throne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will likely be among the only working royals left, other than Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who are all in their seventies and eighties.

‘‘As William and Kate move closer to becoming King and Queen, Sophie and Edward will inevitably become more visible and more important within the monarchy,” Stanton says. “In many ways, they're already being prepared for that shift.”

As the duke and duchess continue to support The King in their daily work, Stanton notes that the public has shown an extremely positive reaction to the couple. “People appear at ease around them, which is often a good reflection of the energy being projected,” he notes.

Since Queen Elizabeth's death, there’s been a subtle but noticeable shift in royal fashion. While women in the Royal Family still err on the conservative side, we’ve certainly seen some changes from the days of constant coat dresses and pantyhose. Duchess Sophie, for one, wore an outfit that she likely wouldn’t have chosen when her late mother-in-law was still alive as she attended a June 1 garden party in Portugal with husband Prince Edward.

Duchess Sophie chose a patterned red maxi dress by Spanish brand Matelier for the sunny event, held at the residence of the UK Ambassador in Lisbon. The long-sleeved Strawberry Date dress mixes shades of bright red and burgundy, and from the front, it looks simple enough. But in a video shared on X by the Daily Express’s deputy royal editor, Rebecca Russell, the plunging back of Sophie’s dress is revealed.

The nearly backless design features a cowl-style drape with a thin strap of fabric across the shoulders, and the video clip reveals Sophie’s back as she chats to women at the event.

The Duchess of Edinburgh paired her daring red dress with a pair of burgundy velvet platform sandals by her favorite shoe brand, Penelope Chilvers, and she added bold gold earrings and a ring by Italian designer Giulia Barela, per Instagrammer Royal Fashion Police.

Like Princess Kate, Sophie is a huge fan of Halcyon Days bracelets, and she wore two of the gold bangles from her collection along with a new gold T-bar necklace by Tilly Sveaas.

At the garden party, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh met with members of the British community and Portuguese partners who are driving positive social change through charities, social enterprises and other community-focused initiatives.

On Tuesday, June 2, the couple continued their visit to Portugal as Duchess Sophie made a powerful speech related to her role in the UN's Women, Peace and Security agenda. For the event, she kept it business casual in a white Altuzarra blazer and a green-and-white Max Mara shirt dress, adding a pair of white espadrille wedges by Penelope Chilvers that she's worn more than 40 times since 2019.

Summer events, like London’s iconic Chelsea Flower Show, seem to have an outfit formula: floral dress, straw tote, espadrilles—and maybe a hat if you’re feeling dramatic. There’s nothing wrong with a classic combo—it works time and time again—but even the perfect outfit needs a little updating. Duchess Sophie showed us exactly how it's done on a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show alongside her husband, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh. Duchess Sophie ditched the frilly dress and florals, and updated the classic straw bag with a modern silhouette.

Duchess Sophie wore an unexpected trench coat and trouser coordinated set in a soft rose hue. The rosy tone of the set was the only obvious sign of flowers in her outfit. Her blouse featured an abstract pseudo-botanical print from Soler London, titled the “California” blouse, but is notably absent from classic florals. Classic wedges and leafy gold earrings tied the look together.

"What a perfect palette for the Flower Show – soft, feminine and utterly seasonal," Leanne Jones, a London College of Fashion-trained stylist told Hello. "The color‑blocking of the Theory trousers with the matching coat is modern and confident, while the floral Soler shirt adds a playful, romantic note." The look is slightly unexpected, as other guests flock to the event in floral lace dresses, sun hats, and straw totes.

The outfit was given a modern touch in the form of Radley’s ‘The Golborne’ raffia grab bag. An update from the classic straw tote or Loewe-esque basket tote, the grab bag features a modern shape and leather details for a professional design. Radley describes the bag as “a chunky silhouette crafted with soft, smooth leather” that serves as “the perfect backdrop to a range of understated craft details.” The style adds an unexpectedly modern finish to the outfit, with enough room for summer essentials.

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Lady Louise Windsor is currently working at The Royal Windsor Horse Show, where she is following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Louise has also stolen one particular item from mom Duchess Sophie's closet for the occasion.

After borrowing Princess Kate's Holland Cooper sweater earlier in the week, Lady Louise appeared to raid her mom's wardrobe to take part in the Pol Roger Meet of the British Driving Society on Sunday, May 17.

As well as wearing her own Laurence Coste Leonidas Two Coin Gold Earrings, Lady Louise donned a pink wide-brimmed hat for the occasion. The young royal accented the hat with a brat green ribbon-like scarf, swapping out her mom's previous choice.

Duchess Sophie has worn the smart hat on numerous occasions, including to attend the Coral Gold Cup Meeting at Newbury Racecourse in November 2025 with husband Prince Edward. However, instead of a green scarf, Duchess Sophie adorned the hat with a fuchsia pink ribbon.

As well as borrowing a hat from her mom, Lady Louise is following in grandmother Queen Elizabeth's footsteps with her foray into working with horses.

Queen Elizabeth was known for her love of horses and was seen carriage driving on many occasions.

As a result, Lady Louise's decision to take part in The Royal Windsor Horse Show once more, and embrace its many events, shows that she's taking after her grandmother in an important way. And when it comes to Lady Louise's style choices, Duchess Sophie better keep an eye on her closet.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show was one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite annual events, and Duchess Sophie and her daughter, Lady Louise, have kept the family legacy going. The late Queen was often seen in a country-cool look of a quilted jacket and Hermès head scarf at the event, but 22-year-old Louise borrowed a look straight out of her cousin-in-law Kate’s closet on Friday, May 15.

Lady Louise was spotted wearing the same ivory Holland Cooper sweater owned by the Princess of Wales as she arrived to work at the horse show. Princess Kate has worn the cozy Fair Isle sweater on several occasions, including a 2022 CBeebies appearance and a 2023 Instagram post promoting her Together at Christmas concert.

Louise paired the $299 turtleneck with a wool coat and a checked Zara skirt, although she carried the sweater over her arm in one photo taken later in the day and appeared to be wearing a chambray blouse under her blazer.

As for proud mom Duchess Sophie, she bundled up in four layers as she took in the action at the horse show, wearing a frilly floral blouse by Lexy London under a camel-colored cardigan and a brown blazer.

She topped off the look with a trench coat draped around her shoulders, adding blue corduroy pants and brown boots to her outfit.

This year, Lady Louise—who has also worked at a garden center—is taking on a paid job at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, and the show's director praised the royal for her down-to-earth nature.

“Lady Louise is one of the chief organisers, essentially operating a first concierge service,” Nick Books-Ward told Vanity Fair. “She’s a great worker and a real asset to the team with no airs or graces. It’s a proper paid job, and there’s no special treatment because of who she is.”

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Princess Kate can’t get enough of a Self-Portrait blazer dress, and she once again showed her allegiance to the brand at a royal garden party on Friday, May 8. The Princess of Wales joined Prince William, Duchess Sophie, Prince Edward and Zara and Mike Tindall at Buckingham Palace to mark the second garden party of the season, and Kate brought out all the fashion stops in a polka dot outfit.

The princess wore a vintage-inspired cream dress featuring a wool jacket with a 3-D satin rose, but hers featured some different details than the $750 style available for sale. Self-Portrait's original dress has a full satin skirt, but Kate's appears to be a custom version with a slimmer, longer pleated skirt.

The royal further customized her outfit with a different belt, and swapped out the black one that comes with the dress for a white style.

The Princess of Wales added some more old-school glamour with her hat, wearing a vintage style by Mitzi Lorenz featuring a cream base with black flowers and black mesh detail. The hat was recently sold for £135 from Albion Vintage Hat Shop in London via the website Hat Circle, suggesting it was Kate who snagged the gorgeous headpiece.

She finished off her outfit with an old pair of brown Ralph Lauren pumps, a woven clutch by Forever New, Queen Elizabeth’s Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings and a pearl bracelet that was owned by Princess Diana.

The original version of the dress brings back memories of some of the styles Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret wore in the 1950s, including a white dotted dress Margaret wore on a 1955 tour to the Caribbean and a style Queen Elizabeth sported during a tour of India in 1961. Self-Portrait currently sells a very similar dress to the one Margaret wore, proving the silhouette never goes out of style.

Princess Kate has worn a number of other Self-Portrait styles in the past, including an ivory blazer dress she also owns in black (as does Princess Beatrice, who wore it to a memorial for Queen Elizabeth). From Wimbledon to a VE Day concert, the Princess of Wales relies on the brand's belted styles to see her through busy days of royal engagements—and if it isn't broke, why fix it?

Duchess Sophie made a poignant appearance on Wednesday, April 15 to mark the third anniversary of the conflict in Sudan, which has now become the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The Duchess of Edinburgh serves as royal patron of U.K. children’s charity Plan International, and she attended a roundtable event at its headquarters to raise awareness for the “harrowing” situation in Sudan.

Together with Sudanese youth advocates, civil society organizations, U.K. Government representatives and humanitarian workers, Duchess Sophie discussed the impact the conflict has had on the Sudanese people, especially girls.

“After three years of conflict, Sudan is reaping the most horrendous human cost on the planet,” the Duchess of Edinburgh said. “I’ve had the privilege of speaking to women impacted by conflicts from all over the world—but the stories from Sudan are the most harrowing I have ever heard.”

Duchess Sophie continued, “No human should ever have to encounter such devastation and violence. We must not forget about Sudan and I will keep raising my voice where and when I can.”

During the Plan International event, she added words of support on a tree of reflection, writing, “Peace is the only option. The People of Sudan are not forgotten.”

According to the charity, more than 21 million people are facing extreme hunger in Sudan, with famine declared in parts of the country. Right now, 12 million Sudanese people—a quarter of the population—are thought to be at risk of gender-based violence, including rape and sexual assault. 

The Duchess of Edinburgh visited the Chad-Sudan border in 2024, and in January 2026 she penned a powerful essay in the Telegraph about her experience there.

After meeting girls and women who had escaped Sudan, she reflected on “their eyes telling tales of horrors no one should ever see,” including “bodies piled up like a wall” and “women raped and beaten.”

“Girls who have had their education interrupted must be given the chance to return to school, and women, men and children who have endured unthinkable sexual violence need access to health services, safe spaces and support to recover and restore their dignity,” the duchess wrote. “These are not luxuries; they are basic human requirements.”

Sometimes, the smallest accessory can send the biggest message and bring meaning to an entire outfit. For the historic Enthronement Service installing the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Princess of Wales had a delicate cross necklace peeking out from her elegant gray Suzannah coat. A thin silver chain held a simple diamond cross pendant—small, but meaningful. Nearly slipping into her neckline, the petite pendant was the ultimate in elegant minimalism, and makes the perfect accessory for your upcoming Easter plans.

Anyone who has visited London’s Victoria and Albert Museum—where several of the finest historical examples are on display—knows that crucifix necklaces have a long history in the fashion world. With adornment styles dating back to the 5th century A.D., the iconic cross necklace is a wardrobe staple. Cross necklaces are one of the most timeless and effortless pendant styles throughout history. Celebrity stylist Genesis Webb told Elle that the cross necklace “is classically beautiful, and it’s also rooted in a sense of trust to be protected by something you believe in.”

The Princess of Wales has owned her delicate diamond cross necklace for over two decades. The necklace first appears in photographs of young Kate Middleton at the wedding of Hugh Van Cutsem and Rose Astor in 2005, and the princess has worn the pendant several times since then. Although Princess Kate has remained quietly religious throughout her life, attending church services on high holidays like Easter and Christmas, she said she has become “very spiritual” in recent years following her cancer treatment.

While you don’t have to be fiercely religious to wear a cross necklace, they do make the perfect accessory as Easter approaches. The springtime holiday is the ideal excuse to pull out the floral prints, flouncy dresses, and the cross necklace you were given for your First Holy Communion—or, shop one of our classic style choices below. Pair with classic pearl earrings, like the Princess of Wales, for a meaningful Easter style.

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Duchess Sophie said hello to spring in a dreamy pastel dress on Monday, March 23, attending the Jane Goodall Institute UK's Reasons for Hope gala alongside a lesser-known member of the Royal Family. The Duchess of Edinburgh was joined by Lady Helen Taylor, the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, as they honored the legacy of the late Dr. Jane Goodall at The Peninsula London.

Sophie debuted a new dress for the gala, wearing the soft lilac Hypnotic maxi by Zimmermann. Described by the label as an “ethereal and romantic” style, Sophie’s sheer, long-sleeved dress featured an earth-toned paisley print and a sash belt, and she paired it with a metallic gold clutch and beaded drop earrings.

This is the second paisley style the Duchess of Edinburgh has worn in recent memory. In late February, she embraced bold color as she took part in an official visit to Kenya, wearing a turquoise paisley dress by Lexy London.

Lady Helen rarely makes public appearances, but she coordinated with Duchess Sophie in muted pastels for the Jane Goodall gala. The mother of four draped a sheer green scarf around her neck, pairing an ivory blouse and green satin evening skirt with a black crystal-embellished bag.

Although she’s not a working royal, Lady Helen does join King Charles and the rest of the family at select events, and was last seen attending The King’s annual Christmas lunch with husband Tim Taylor. She also brought her children Columbus, Cassius and Estella to Princess Kate’s Together at Christmas concert in December 2025.

The Princess of Wales included a special touch in the carol service that would have been especially meaningful for Lady Helen and her siblings, Lord Nicholas Windsor and George, Earl of St Andrews. Their mother, the Duchess of Kent, died in September 2025, and the Together at Christmas concert included performances from Future Talent, a charity the late royal founded to support young musicians.

If you’re Queen Camilla or Princess Kate, you can’t exactly turn up to the local movie theater with your friends and see Wuthering Heights. But as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s BBC Newsnight interviewer, Emily Maitlis, once revealed, Buckingham Palace is often transformed into a secret cinema for members of the Royal Family and their staff. Now former royal butler Grant Harrold, who worked for King Charles at Highgrove, is sharing what it was really like to watch movies with the royals.

Opening up about his experience to Smooth Spins Casino, Harrold explained how rooms in various royal residences are rearranged to replicate a movie-going experience. “There’s a mixture of sofas and armchairs, and then, as you go down the ranks, there are normal dining chairs,” he shared of the ballroom setup.

“The movie night that I went to at Balmoral, there were no snacks or drinks,” Harrold recalled. “They have it sometimes at Sandringham as well, which is mainly with friends and family. For some reason, I remember there being drinks and food at Sandringham. I think it was just some sweets or Jammy Dodgers [jam-filled cookies] in packets.”

The former Highgrove butler says he saw the Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt flick Mr. & Mrs. Smith at the time, noting that the royals show “a mixture of old and new movies” ranging “from every genre and every era.” Queen Elizabeth was apparently a big fan of old musicals and “loved South Pacific,” Harrold revealed, while King Charles also enjoyed classic films.

Harrold revealed that he once “gave Charles a video of Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis to watch once, and he liked that. That gives you an idea of the King’s sort of taste in films.”

As for who would be in attendance, the former butler said that “the Royal Family and their guests” would typically join in, “and then the staff would watch from the sidelines.” When he worked for the family between 2004 and 2011, Harrold recalled “it would be the [late] Queen, Prince Philip, Charles, Camilla and Edward. It was very much an open ticket.”

He shared that “some nights you had a full house, but it really depended on the movie,” adding, “I remember going into the ballroom at Balmoral once and the chairs were all there, but not a single member of the Royal Family appeared.”

Describing the experience as “not quite like the cinema,” Harrold admitted, “It’s a little bit posher, but still fun.”

As for Maitlis, she was actually invited to stay on for a palace movie night after her infamous 2019 interview with the former Duke of York. In 2019, she wrote about the experience in the Times, explaining how the floors were "being transformed by palace workmen" for the special screening.

When she suggested they hold a viewing of royal drama The Crown, a staff member told her, “We had Downtown Abbey last week. But we don't do The Crown here.” Fair enough.

Queen Elizabeth loved to fly the flag for British fashion, and with what would have been her 100th birthday approaching on April 21, who better than Burberry to celebrate the milestone? On Thursday, March 12, the British designer announced the launch of a special new collection in collaboration with the Royal Collection Trust—and it’s every royal watcher’s dream.

Drawing inspiration from Queen Elizabeth’s country-chic wardrobe, Burberry’s centenary collection features four pieces, including a green car coat lined with a special new colorway of the brand’s iconic House Check. Per Burberry, the green and purple design was inspired by a tartan personally worn by the late monarch, who also favored the no-nonsense silhouette of the coat.

The special checked pattern appears across the rest of the new pieces, including a cozy, Scottish-woven cashmere scarf. My personal favorite, however, is Burberry’s gorgeous silk twill scarf, featuring a hand-painted depiction of Balmoral Castle, the late Queen’s beloved Scottish home. A pack of corgis and Burberry’s signature plaid perfectly trim the classic design.

Rounding out the offerings is a $585 brooch featuring Queen Elizabeth’s favorite dog breed, with the gold-plated corgi pin wearing an adorable enameled check coat and holding on to a freshwater pearl with a Burberry Knight motif.

Queen Elizabeth was fond of Burberry’s classic British heritage pieces over the years and awarded the brand a royal warrant in 1955. She famously wore a checked Burberry head scarf while traveling to Sandringham for Christmas in 2018, but the late royal also relied on the label for days out in the country.

“Synonymous with British style, the Queen often chose Burberry for outdoor pursuits—reflecting the brand’s commitment to protecting people from unpredictable weather,” the brand said in a statement.

Will any of the royals wear one of Burberry’s new designs? Something tells me this collection would be right up Princess Anne’s alley, but watch this space.

Prince Edward is marking his 62nd birthday on March 10, and he combined royal duties with celebrations while attending the Paralympic Games in Cortina, Italy with Duchess Sophie. After once being called “Prince Brat,” the Duke of Edinburgh has become an increasingly important member of the Royal Family in recent years, especially after he took over his father, Prince Philip’s, duke title. Reflecting on Edward’s growing role, one royal expert has noted that Prince William can count on his uncle as a “steady” influence when he eventually takes the throne.

Royal journalist and author Robert Jobson told the Daily Express that with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “permanently out of the public eye,” King Charles is lucky to have another brother he can count on.

“In Edward, The King has found a trusted, steady hand—dependable and discreet—supported by his equally grounded wife, Sophie,” Jobson said. “Together, they present a wholesome, scandal-free image that has quietly bolstered the monarchy’s relatability in modern times.”

Jobson noted that with fewer working royals to go around, King Charles “has increasingly turned to Prince Edward to shoulder the duties once shared among the younger generation of their era.”

And when Prince William becomes King, he'll need to rely on his uncle even more as the pool of full-time senior royals shrinks even more.

Edward, who shares daughter Lady Louise and son James, Earl of Wessex with the Duchess of Edinburgh, quietly carries out engagements on behalf of the Crown, such as his work with the British Paralympic Association.

“He has stepped up at a time when Charles and William need loyal, experienced support—and Edward delivers it without fuss,” Jobson said. “His decades of quiet service and his unblemished record have also positioned him as a valuable bridge between generations.”

Prince William, Princess Anne, and Duchess Sophie came together to travel to Brecon, Wales, to attend a Service of Thanksgiving for a very close friend of the Royal Family. Shân Legge-Bourke, who died in December 2025, was celebrated with a service at Brecon Cathedral alongside the Legge-Bourke family and friends. Dame Shån was remembered in The Bidding of the Service for her “loyalty to her beliefs and friends,” and that loyalty and friendship was clearly appreciated by the Royal Family.

Dame Elizabeth Shân Legge-Bourke, known as Shân to her friends, served as a Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Anne, and her late husband, Captain William Legge-Bourke served as a Royal Equerry for the late Queen Elizabeth II. Dame Shân was a close friend of the Royal Family throughout her life, often guiding them on official visits to Wales in her capacity as Lord Lieutenant of Powys. Her daughter, Tiggy Pettifer (née Legge-Bourke), was a favored nanny of Prince William and Prince Harry, showing the close family ties.

Women were invited to wear colorful hats and dresses to Dame Shân’s Service of Thanksgiving, while men were invited to wear suits or uniforms. Prince William was seen in his usual nondescript suit, while Duchess Sophie wore a maroon-trimmed coat, red dress, and coordinating hatband, and Princess Anne wore a charcoal skirt suit. The royal trio arrived in three individual Range Rovers, and drove right onto the cathedral grounds to exit their vehicles away from the public eye.

Queen Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Princess Alexandra all sent representatives on their behalf alongside Prince William, Princess Anne, and Duchess Sophie. Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan also attended the service, showing how far-reaching Dame Shån’s relationships stretched. Her family concluded the service with a lighthearted personal note, writing “The family hope you will join them in the Marquee for “Coca Cola and a [cigarette]”!”

Duchess Sophie returned from a trip to Somalia and Kenya in late February, and on Tuesday, March 3, she showed off a memory from her travels during an official royal visit to Northern Ireland.

Wearing a brown blazer buttoned up over a burgundy tweed midi dress, the Duchess of Edinburgh visited a new specialist autism center, attended a Women in Leadership event and even cuddled some guide dogs. Taking a cue from Princess Kate's outfit in Wales last week, Sophie accessorized with maroon leather boots, finishing off her look with jewelry from Nairobi, Kenya-based Kazuri Beads.

The duchess visited the jeweler during her trip to Kenya on February 25, learning how the company creates employment opportunities and financial security for women in the area. Sophie has long championed causes related to female empowerment, and Kazuri Beads has grown to a world-renowned brand while staying true to its core values.

Sophie took time to try on multiple pieces during her visit to the jeweler, which focuses on handmade, traditional African craftsmanship. She was shown purchasing the eggplant-colored necklace she wore to Belfast in photos from her Kenya trip, and Sophie paired the beaded design with a coordinating pair of round drop earrings.

The Duchess of Edinburgh also sported a pair of green sea glass earrings from Kazuri Beads during her time in Kenya, pairing them with a colorful floral dress by Lexy London and a landscape-patterned Suzannah London shirt dress.

Before she visited Kenya, Sophie met with groups who are working to help those impacted by conflict-based sexual violence in Somalia. Along with visiting a hospital, the duchess met survivors and learned more about organizations fighting to deliver essential services to women in an area plagued by drought and political tensions.

Commonwealth Day is one of the highlights of the royal calendar each year, with King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate and other senior royals coming together to celebrate the diverse countries that make up the Commonwealth of Nations. Held on the second Monday of March, the event is marked with a service at Westminster Abbey each year, and on Tuesday, March 3, Buckingham Palace announced the royal lineup would be missing two key figures.

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are typically regular attendees at the Commonwealth Day festivities, but last year, Sophie missed the event to travel to New York and support women's and girls' rights with Plan International UK. Edward, whose birthday was the same day as the event, also missed the service.

This year, neither the duke or duchess will be present at Commonwealth Day again because of some exciting royal duties abroad. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will be flying to Cortina, Italy to take part in the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Prince Edward, who serves as patron of the British Paralympic Association, just returned from the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina last month after supporting British athletes in the games.

Although Edward and Sophie won't be at the Commonwealth Day event, royal fans can look forward to seeing King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester on Monday, March 9.

The royals, along with 1,800 guests, will take part in readings and performances that reflect the spirit of the Commonwealth. This year's theme is focused on highlighting "collaboration as the defining strength of the modern Commonwealth" and the service will include several royal firsts.

Per Buckingham Palace, the service at Westminster Abbey will feature the world premiere performance of the Commonwealth Symphony, composed by Rekesh Chauhan, and a bespoke dance collaboration between the Royal Ballet School and Sapnay Entertainments Ltd. that unites classical ballet and Bollywood moves.

Duchess Sophie played into this spring’s biggest, boldest trend with a joy-inducing maximalist fashion moment. Banishing the greys and neutrals of a seasonally-depressive winter, the Duchess of Edinburgh wore an ebullient paisley maxi dress from Lexy London on the second day of her official visit to Kenya. At a meeting with women peacebuilders in Wajir, north-east Kenya, Duchess Sophie spoke of “community resilience” in the region, which faces significant instability in its climate and access to resources. She sat barefoot in a circle with the women, her cheerful dress brightening the conversation that could otherwise feel very heavy.

For the visit, Duchess Sophie chose Lexy London’s Deborah dress in Wild Meadow, described by the brand as “a bright and multi coloured summery print.” The design is crafted “for effortless styling, allowing you to simply slip it on and go.” The Duchess of Edinburgh paired the dress with neutral espadrille wedges and coordinating, simple drop earrings for an uncomplicated outfit. An easy hero piece, like this bold paisley dress, makes the maximalist trend feel accessible and wearable.

As Emma Childs declared in Marie Claire earlier this month, “high saturation [is] the name of the game.” The Spring 2026 collections were a rainbow of cobalt, magenta, and “Big Bird yellow.” As the temperatures climb, and the flowers eventually start to bloom, Childs explains that the fashion goal is to “be as vibrant as a kindergartner’s coloring book.” While other royal women are out in neutral beiges, blacks, and greys, Duchess Sophie is wearing a loud, unapologetically cheerful dress. “The color palette presented last fashion month was the final nail in the quiet luxury coffin,” Childs said, emphasizing that quiet luxury is out, and electric hues are in.

The Duchess of Edinburgh’s bright dress was hard to miss, and created an approachable rapport between the royal woman and the women peacebuilders she was meeting. When the cultural divide can feel so vast, a cheerful fashion moment can lend a sense of friendliness—the bolder, the better.

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Duchess Sophie has worked tirelessly to support survivors of sexual violence in conflict zones, and on February 24, Buckingham Palace announced that she’s visited Somalia for the first time. Earlier this week, the Duchess of Edinburgh completed a two-day visit to the African country at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before heading to Kenya to recognize the role women play in preventing and resolving conflicts.

Somalia has been dealing with political tensions amid the government's offensive against the armed extremist group Al-Shabaab. The group has imposed harsh restrictions on women and girls in areas it controls, and many have faced forced marriages and sexual violence as part of the ongoing conflict in Somalia.

During her visit, the Duchess of Edinburgh met with Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and joined his daughter Jihan Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to meet survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. She also visited a hospital in Mogadishu to learn more about a sexual and reproductive health program supported by the U.K. that’s now operating in 39 facilities across Somalia.

Per Buckingham Palace, the duchess—who champions the UN's Women, Peace and Security Agenda— “met survivors who spoke about the impact of female genital mutilation, rape and sexual assault on Somali women, and the importance of being able to access vital services.”

The country has been facing a severe drought which has only increased the difficulty for women in Somalia to access vital services. Duchess Sophie learned more about how area organizations work against these conditions to help women facing sexual and gender-based violence.

She also visited a village to meet the wives of Somali fighters, speaking to the women about the challenges they face while their husbands are fighting to secure the country.

On February 25, Sophie headed to Kenya, kicking off her visit by meeting with President William Rutton at State House in Nairobi. Afterwards, she met artisans working at Kazuri Beads, which provides local women with employment opportunities to help achieve economic independence.

Her trip comes a week after her brother-in-law, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former Duke of York’s association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has raised numerous questions about what the Royal Family, in particular Queen Elizabeth, knew in regards to his misconduct.

Sophie’s husband, Prince Edward, was the first member of the family to publicly address his brother’s scandal when he was asked about it during a conference in the Middle East. "Well, with the best will in the world, I'm not sure this is the audience that is the least bit interested in that," he stated, noting, "I think it's all really important, always, to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this."

For Duchess Sophie, it seems the best course of action is to continue doing what she does best—fighting for women’s rights behind the scenes.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor became the first member of the British Royal Family to be arrested in more than 350 years after police took him into custody on Thursday, February 19. The former Duke of York, who turned 66 on Thursday, was released after being held for roughly 11 hours at the Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk, England. Although King Charles expressed his "full support" for the investigation, royal journalist and author Robert Jobson told People that there could be larger implications for the Royal Family.

The ex-Duke of York was taken from The King's Sandringham estate and arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Thursday morning, as the BBC first reported. Andrew, who formerly served as a trade envoy for the U.K., has been accused of sharing confidential documents with Jeffrey Epstein after emails between the two were released by the Department of Justice in January.

"When these things went on, he was Prince Andrew, Duke of York," Jobson told People. "He was right at the heart of the Royal Family and appointed by the late Queen and the government. It is one thing kicking him out now and saying he is a bad apple, but they didn’t have due diligence in place."

Jobson continued that if members of the Royal Family were aware of what Andrew had done, the consequences could be severe. "The problem will be—who knew what and when and why was nothing done?" he asked.

"If it comes out that people knew stuff—whether it be members of the family or police or staffers—then heads must roll," the Windsor Legacy author added.

The Thames Valley Police issued a statement confirming a "man in his sixties from Norfolk" was "released under investigation" on Thursday evening, not calling the former Duke of York by name.

Jobson said that Andrew's arrest brings into question transparency within the Royal Family. "Charles is not guilty of anything here. But the monarchy needs to change," he said. "They can’t hide behind the Official Secrets Act and the lack of Freedom of Information."

"They have to be as accountable and transparent as a government department," the royal expert continued. "All these whispers here or there, they have to be much firmer in the way they approach things. The lack of accountability and the lack of transparency has led to complacency which has led to this problem."

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's daughter Lady Louise Windsor has inherited the carriage driving bug from her late grandfather, Prince Philip, and her University of St Andrews boyfriend can often be found cheering from the sidelines at competitions. Louise met fellow student Felix da Silva-Clamp at the Scottish university famously attended by Prince William and Princess Kate, and according to one equestrian insider, Louise and Felix are a very "normal" couple.

Carriage driving trainer Sara Howe often encounters the duo at competitions, and she told Hello! that Felix has "always been very supportive, but also leaves her alone to get on with the job."

Louise's boyfriend is a regular on the carriage driving circuit and was spotted with Louise, Duchess Sophie and Prince Philip's close friend, Penny Knatchbull, at the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials last summer along with other competitions.

"They join in and they help and they talk. They're just lovely," Howe told Hello! She added that the couple "certainly aren't put out on a pedestal and that nobody can go anywhere near them. They're totally the opposite from that."

Along with Felix, Duchess Sophie is a regular supporter at Louise's carriage-driving competitions—and she takes the part in the sport herself.

"Her mother is very supportive, and her brother turns up as well sometimes," Howe added. "Mum, nine times out of ten, she turns up because, again, she's another carriage driver. She's heavily involved."

Duchess Sophie takes part in "Concours d'Elegance," a different side to carriage driving that focuses on showmanship and "looking beautiful in lovely carriages," as Howe noted. She praised the royals participating in the niche sport, adding, "It's a very family thing that they're doing."

Purple has long been a symbol of royalty, making February’s birthstone, amethyst, prime for royal sparkle. Surprisingly, it's not a stone that frequently features in British royal jewelry, but Queen Elizabeth wore one incredible amethyst brooch with ties to Queen Victoria.

The Kent Amethyst Brooch was originally owned by Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, who passed it down to her daughter. It later became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth's, and Oliver Hobart, jewelry expert and creative director at wholesale jeweler 925E, tells Marie Claire that the late Queen wore it "in carefully considered moments."

"Long before major Brazilian deposits made the stone more widely available in the 19th century, amethyst was considered as precious as diamonds, rubies and sapphires," the jewelry pro says. He adds that Kent Amethyst brooch is a "significant" example of the stone, with the piece "originally part of a demi-parure assembled in the early 19th century for the Duchess of Kent."

The set also includes a pair of amethyst and diamond drop earrings and a whopper of a necklace, which the late Queen wore together with the brooch for a 1985 state banquet in Portugal.

"When Queen Victoria later designated the set an heirloom of the Crown, she ensured its passage through successive generations, embedding it within royal continuity rather than fashion," Hobart adds.

The brooch features a "striking hexagonal amethyst framed by diamonds, complete with detachable pendants that subtly alter its scale," per the jewelry pro. Queen Elizabeth, however, preferred to wear the piece on its own, although she did attach its three dangling pendants for select occasions.

Although purple is such a symbol of royalty, Hobart says the late Queen "was not known for gravitating toward amethyst in the way she did pearls or sapphires, which makes her appearances in the Kent brooch more telling."

"She tended to wear it in carefully considered moments, often paired with purple ensembles that allowed the color to deepen rather than compete," he notes. "It added a different register to her jewelry wardrobe, less about brilliance, more about tone and substance."

King Charles and Queen Camilla rolled out the green carpet for a historic film premiere hosted at Windsor Castle, with British royalty and Hollywood royalty both in attendance. The first-ever glamorous film event hosted at a royal castle spotlighted King Charles’s Amazon Prime documentary, Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision, and Duchess Sophie attended the event looking incredibly harmonious in a satin green dress from Galvan.

The dress was described as “an ankle-grazing gown made from swathes of sumptuous silk” by PorterEdit, who declared the dress “a sure-fire way to make a dramatic entrance." Duchess Sophie looked incredible in the “figure-skimming silhouette” that was “guaranteed to make you stand out from the crowd.” The emerald hue—along with the fact that Duchess Sophie has worn this frock several times—matched the eco-conscious theme of the evening. Galvan was founded in London in 2012, “for women by women.” The brand creates “timeless, modern pieces that empower” and designs that are “seemingly effortless and always luxurious.”

Duchess Sophie attended the special viewing and then attended a reception following the film, where she chatted with Hollywood royalty like Kate Winslet, who narrates the film, Dame Judy Dench, and Benedict Cumberbatch. The event brought together major players in film and television to raise awareness for The King’s project, and his hope to make people aware that “we are actually nature ourselves, we are a part of it, not apart from it.” Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, will be available to watch on Prime Video from Friday, February 6.

The Duchess of Edinburgh paired her green-hued dress with a pair of beaded statement earrings and added a touch of royal sparkle with a bracelet from Chopard. Simple black suede pumps from Dior completed the look. Duchess Sophie, who turned 61-years-old last week, proved there is no age limit on a sexy, slinky satin dress.

As the monarch, King Charles is able to request pretty much any food item he desires. But according to a former royal chef, The King previously had several important "instructions," and he didn't like deviating from one breakfast habit in particular.

During an appearance in Channel 5's Secrets of the Royal Kitchen documentary, former Royal Family chef Darren McGrady revealed that Charles especially enjoyed eating fruit from his own garden at Highgrove House. "The instruction was to put two plums and a little juice into the bowl, and send it in to him for breakfast," McGrady said (via Hello! magazine).

However, the royal chef soon realized that Charles often didn't eat both plums. "I'd send in two plums and he would take one so it would come back out after breakfast, and I'd put the other plum back into the jar and save it," McGrady explained.

According to the outlet, McGrady decided to make a "small change" to King Charles's breakfast habit. "One morning I thought, 'Okay he only eats one for breakfast, so I only put one plum into the bowl and sent it out into the dining room."

Unfortunately, McGrady's idea reportedly didn't go down very well with The King. "The attending [staff member] came through and said, 'Can His Royal Highness have two please?' So I had to keep sending two in every morning," the former royal chef said.

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla's son, Tom Parker Bowles, detailed King Charles's updated breakfast habits in the 2024 book Cooking and the Crown. Parker Bowles said Charles's morning meal of dried fruit and honey was "a thoroughly modern, and healthy, start to the day."

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, celebrates her 61st birthday today. The bright and bubbly wife of Prince Edward—the late Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son—has cemented herself as a key figure within the royal family, and has become an “invaluable mentor” to Princess Kate over the years.

Speaking to OK!, former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond said, “I'm sure it's been a comfort for the princess to know that Sophie was on hand during the last difficult couple of years.” Sophie Rhys-Jones married Prince Edward in 1999, so she had a head-start on royal life before welcoming Princess Kate into the family in 2011. "Life has thrown these two women together quite randomly, and landed them on what must have seemed like an alien planet at first," Bond said recently. "The rest of us can only imagine what it must be like to find yourself suddenly inside palace walls."

The Princess of Wales reportedly described Duchess Sophie as a "tower of strength" during the last few years. Now that both royal women have established their roles within the royal family, they can enjoy the unique kinship of each other’s company. "I think they're now much more like friends than aunt and niece,” the former BBC royal correspondent shared. “The two of them have established a very solid friendship which will serve our future Queen well in years to come."

On Princess Kate’s birthday, she shared her thoughts on the healing power of nature and found herself “reflecting on how deeply grateful” she is for each passing year. Speaking of the January weather, she said “even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience, and quiet consideration.” Duchess Sophie also shares a January birthday, and both women surely celebrated with reflection and gratitude.

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.

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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This January marks 27 years since Prince Edward announced his engagement to Sophie Rhys-Jones—now Duchess Sophie—in 1999. The PR professional showed off a sparkling three-stone ring during their engagement photo call, and former royal butler Grant Harrold is now revealing the symbolic meaning behind the diamond style.

Speaking on behalf of Slots Temple, Harrold explains how the trilogy ring design represents the couple. "I think Prince Edward’s choice of engagement ring is really meaningful and very romantic," the former butler to King Charles said. "He gave Sophie a stunning oval diamond with a heart-shaped diamond on either side, estimated to have been worth about £105,000 at the time."

The diamond ring, which features a two-carat center stone, was created by royal-favorite jeweler Asprey & Garrard, known as Garrard today.

"I think this trilogy style ring is very special as the three stones represent the past, the present and the future," Harrold continued, calling it "a lovely idea for an engagement ring."

Three-stone engagement rings are a popular design for many brides, including Meghan Markle, who wears a similar design. Harrold added, "The Royal Family are really into the meaning behind big gestures and I think this style of ring is the perfect example of that."

Edward and Sophie were married on June 19, 1999 at St George's Chapel in Windsor, with the now-Duchess of Edinburgh wearing a romantic, medieval-inspired gown by Samantha Shaw and a tiara that was created especially for her using heirloom royal pieces.

"I met them just before they got married," Harrold shared. "They’re a really lovely couple and so loved by the rest of the Royal Family."

Let's throw it back to July 2011, when the world was a slightly simpler place and Princess Kate and Prince William had just tied the knot. The couple headed on their first overseas tour that summer, and during their trip to Canada, the newly-married Duchess of Cambridge bundled up in a classic checked scarf by British heritage brand Aquascutum. Kate brought the scarf back once again in January 2025 when she was spotted shopping for glasses at Finlay in London. But on January 12, another member of the Royal Family stepped out in the classic wool accessory.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, who has been called Kate's "royal sister," wore the same Aquascutum Wool Iconic Scarf for a training session at England Hockey. Duchess Sophie paired the cozy piece with a black Helmut Lang blazer that she's worn nearly 20 times since 2014, adding a black turtleneck, black jeans and Aquazzura ankle boots.

Like Kate, who took part in a fast-paced hockey session ahead of the 2012 Olympics, Sophie grabbed a stick and got to work as she interacted with members of the men's and women's squads.

The Duchess of Edinburgh ditched her scarf and heeled boots for her training moment, replacing her shoes with a new pair of rainbow-hued Adidas Ultraboost sneakers.

As for the rest of Sophie's outfit, she accessorized with diamond drop earrings by Adore Jewels and one of her favorite pieces of jewelry, a gold Cassandra Goad pendant engraved with the lyrics, "Love the life you live, live the life you love," by Bob Marley.

The duchess also wore the pendant—which she's sported close to 50 times since 2021—for a December visit to one of her patronages, The Lighthouse. Sophie stopped by another Lighthouse location on Friday to check in on the charity's relocation, wearing her new go-to Penelope Chilvers suede boots. Perhaps the duchess's Aquascutum scarf will become a regular in her wardrobe, too.

Duchess Sophie stayed true to her go-to Penelope Chilvers espadrilles all summer long, but now that colder weather is in full swing, she's switched up her style to include a contender right off the autumn/winter 2025 runways. The Duchess of Edinburgh kicked off another busy year of royal events on Friday, January 9, and her new boots have proven to be a wardrobe workhorse.

With square-toed styles right on trend for winter, the royal—who serves as patron of The Lighthouse charity—looked sophisticated in a pair of tan Penelope Chilvers suede boots on Friday. The brand's Sinatra boots, which are made in Spain, feature a two-inch heel and a slightly-below-the-knee shaft, and Sophie has been wearing them on repeat in recent months.

The Duchess of Edinburgh debuted her new boots on November 29 for a day at the races, pairing the shoes with a custom green Claire Mischevani coat for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse. She's since worn them to a December event for Disability Initiative, paired with a red Victoria Beckham trench coat, and to a December 28 church service on the Sandringham estate.

Sophie isn't the only Penelope Chilvers fan in the Royal Family. Princess Kate has worn the brand's famous tassel boots since her University of St Andrews days in the early 2000s, and still steps out in the shoes for royal events.

As for Duchess Sophie's visit to The Lighthouse, the royal paired her boots with a military-style navy jacket by Bally and a long skirt, bundling up with a turtleneck underneath and carrying a tan studded bag by Isabel Marant.

The charity aims "to transform lives through kindness, belief and hope," and Sophie stopped by The Lighthouse's location in Woking, England, to meet volunteers and staff members as they packed up and prepared to move to a new building. More than 8,000 people are assisted by The Lighthouse each year, and the organization provides support for everything from food poverty to loneliness and physical health challenges.

Prince William is reportedly extremely protective when it comes to his wife, Princess Kate.

As reported by Cosmopolitan, Prince William's protective nature was explored in royal author Robert Jobson's book Catherine, the Princess of Wales. When French magazine Closer published nude photographs of the Princess of Wales during a private vacation in Provence, France in 2012, Prince William "could barely contain his fury," Jobson explained.

Horrified by what Cosmopolitan described as a "shocking breach of privacy," Jobson shared that William "believes that if anyone oversteps the mark regarding Catherine...it is his duty to step in and protect her." Per the author, William's "stance was clear from the start of their relationship: he would not tolerate the media crossing the line."

Princess Kate was eventually awarded €100,000 [approximately $116,000] for the intrusion of privacy. During the trial, Prince William said in a written statement, per the BBC, "My wife and I thought that we could go to France for a few days in a secluded villa owned by a member of my family, and thus enjoy our privacy. We know France and the French, and we know that they are, in principle, respectful of private life, including that of their guests. The clandestine way in which these photographs were taken was particularly shocking to us as it breached our privacy."

The Prince of Wales also noted that the media intrusion was "all the more painful" due to his mother Princess Diana's death in Paris in 1997. Tragically, Diana was involved in a fatal car crash while she was being chased by paparazzi photographers. As a result, William appears to have dedicated himself to ensuring his wife's safety, wherever they are in the world.

Friday, January 9 marked 1,000 days since the war in Sudan started, and Duchess Sophie wrote a moving personal essay for the Telegraph to draw attention to the ongoing crisis for the Sudanese people. The Duchess of Edinburgh, who serves as royal patron of global children's charity Plan International UK, reflected on her visit to the Chad-Sudan border in October 2024, writing that she "heard stories of profound loss and resilience."

The war in Sudan began in 2023, and since then, has become one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. During her trip, the duchess met with young women and girls supported by Plan International UK who had fled to neighboring Chad.

She wrote that "their deeply personal and shocking accounts reflected the experiences of so many," adding, "Their eyes telling tales of horrors no one should ever see; bodies piled up like a wall, families drowned at gunpoint, children carved in two, women raped and beaten. Those who can escape, live in fear of being killed later."

Speaking of the 1,000th day of fighting, Duchess Sophie wrote, "It is a moment that should make us stop and reflect, not only due to the scale of the suffering, but because this crisis has unfolded with so little global attention."

She pointed out the severe amount of aid that's needed for the survivors of war, ranging from basic needs like food and medical supplies to mental health support.

"Girls who have had their education interrupted must be given the chance to return to school, and women, men and children who have endured unthinkable sexual violence need access to health services, safe spaces and support to recover and restore their dignity," the duchess wrote. "These are not luxuries; they are basic human requirements."

Along with the horrific stories of war, the duchess—who is a mother of two—said she witnessed "extraordinary strength" in the Sudanese people.

"At a Plan International mobile protection unit, I met women who had fled the conflict now caring for children separated from their families," she wrote. "Their resilience and quiet leadership reminded me of what I have witnessed time and again—that women are central not only to surviving crises, but to rebuilding and striving for lasting peace. When they are supported and empowered, whole communities are better able to recover."

The duchess has been an outspoken campaigner for women's rights causes and fighting sexual violence in conflict, having visited areas like Ukraine and Ethiopia in recent years.

The Telegraph's royal editor, Hannah Furness, added that the Duchess of Edinburgh "has chosen to champion bold causes, and she is unflinching in talking about the crimes that others might hide in euphemism."

To support children in Sudan, visit the Plan International UK site.

In the run-up to Christmas 2025, the question on many royal watchers' minds was whether Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie would spend the holiday with the rest of the Royal Family in Norfolk. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wasn't invited to the traditional Sandringham gathering after his titles were stripped in October, and although his daughters could've stayed home last year, they opted to join King Charles for Christmas.

Speaking on the Sun's "Royal Exclusive" show, Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, said that even if Eugenie and Beatrice wanted to skip a royal Christmas, she thinks the former Duke of York would've convinced the girls otherwise.

Seward said that Andrew "wants to keep a foot in" with his family, adding, "A, he wants to know what’s going on. B, he’d want to know what people were saying about him."

Without an invitation of his own, the disgraced royal can only get a glimpse at his family's goings on through his daughters.

"And he’s always said that, and Fergie has said, ‘the girls are my passport,' Seward continued. "They are Andrew’s only passport into the Royal Family now. And I’m absolutely sure that he persuaded them."

Royal commentator Charlie Rae also noted that "Andrew wants to keep an eye on what’s going on," adding since "he's not at the table anymore" the former duke would likely turn to his daughters and "be on the phone saying, 'Right, who said what?'"

Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, marked the holiday privately, with Entitled author Andrew Lownie telling Cosmopolitan UK the former couple "would take advantage of this last Christmas to do all sorts of entertaining" at their longtime home, Royal Lodge, before they're evicted.

"They've got friends...there are friends that go back a long way, and [have] stuck with them," he said. "Andrew still has his shooting friends."

As for his next move, the former duke is set to move into a remote property on the Sandringham estate, with multiple royal sources confirming that The King hopes Andrew and Sarah will be out before the family celebrates Easter in Windsor.

It was 27 years ago when Prince Edward announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Sophie Rhys-Jones, a moment that the British press had been waiting on since they started dating in 1993. Duchess Sophie herself admitted to being "stunned" by the proposal—despite their five-year relationship—but Edward recognized that the timing had to be absolutely perfect, as he told the world on January 6, 1999.

"It’s impossible to understand why it has taken me this long, but I don’t think it would have been right before, and I don’t think she would have said yes," Edward told media during his engagement photocall.

To understand his hesitation, one only needs to look at the dramatic royal landscape of the '90s. Prince Charles and Princess Diana separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996, and the "War of the Waleses" was the talk of the tabloids. Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson and Andrew-Mountbatten Windsor also divorced the same year, and in 1997, Princess Diana died in a tragic car accident.

If Edward, now the Duke of Edinburgh, was reluctant to bring Sophie into such a complicated dynamic, it's no wonder why. But in December 1998, he took his girlfriend on a romantic trip to the Bahamas and popped the question during a "candle-lit dinner," as author Sean Smith detailed in Sophie: Saving the Royal Family.

During their engagement interview, Sophie said that she felt prepared to become a member of the Royal Family—after all, "she was 15 years older than Diana had been," as Smith noted.

"It is slightly nerve-racking in many ways but I am ready for it now," she said. "I'm fully aware of the responsibilities and commitments and I think now I am ready."

For his part, Edward reflected on his siblings' failed relationships and how he hoped his would differ, telling reporters, "I think if anyone is going to get married I hope they think they will get it right. We are the best of friends and we happen to love each other very much, and long may that continue."

When you write about royal style as often as I do, it's almost impossible not to be influenced by your own coverage. Over the years, I’ve become an expert in royal-inspired shopping—a skill that comes in especially handy during the holiday season.

And when it’s time to put together a royal gift guide, there’s no one I trust more than my friend and Marie Claire contributing writer, Christine Ross. If there’s one thing we both take extremely seriously, it’s a good gift guide. For the record, that means a list that's not filled with the same old royal pieces that have been circulating for years (you know the ones).

Instead, we're including some of our tried-and-true favorite royal products, along with a few slightly more under-the-radar picks. From Princess Kate’s favorite earrings to Queen Letizia's go-to shoes, read on for 12 of our top royally-approved gifts for 2025.

Kristin's Picks

Christine's Picks

In the wake of the ongoing scandal surrounding his former ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has lost quite a bit.

At the beginning of October, the disgraced royal willingly gave up the use his royal titles and honors (not including his prince title, which his older brother, King Charles, formally stripped him of later), but early reports suggested that the former prince would cling to his right to live at Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion in Windsor that he and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson (who has been embroiled in her own Epstein-related scandal) have called home for years, no matter what happened.

Experts explained that it would be difficult for the King to evict Andrew against his will, thanks to what was widely described as a "cast-iron" lease the former Duke of York held that guaranteed his right to live in the extravagant royal residence until 2078. Still, it soon became clear that Andrew's days at Royal Lodge were numbered, no matter what the terms of his lease were.

In an October 24 post on his The Royalist substack, royal expert Tom Sykes wrote confidently that Prince Andrew would move out of Royal Lodge and reported that sources told him the issue is a matter of “when not if” he would leave the property.

"He is moving," a courtier insisted to The Royalist at the time. "It’s just a matter of getting the choreography right now.”

Those predictions proved true and just days later, it was reported that Andrew had agreed to move out of Royal Lodge. While early reports about Andrew's impending move suggested that he was negotiating to take up residence in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's former Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage, it soon became clear that the former prince wouldn't be staying in Windsor at all.

Faced with an unrelenting onslaught of backlash and public scrutiny, the royal family decided not to move Andrew into another taxpayer-funded royal residence and to instead move him into one of the King's privately-owned homes on his Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

Although the Palace hasn't announced any official timeline for Andrew's relocation, many assumed the move would happen before the end of the year. According to a report from The Sun, however, Andrew's move will take longer than that.

The outlet reports that the former Duke of York's eviction from Royal Lodge "is likely to be delayed until February" and definitely won't happen before Christmas. The reason, according to the Sun's source, is because the disgraced royal is struggling to downsize.

“He has a large house where he has lived for a long time and he will be moving into a more modest house so, logically, it won’t happen this side of Christmas," the source explained, adding that moving out of Royal Lodge will take time and that it's not known when Andrew's new home—which has not been announced yet—will be ready.

In recent years, Prince Edward's wife, Duchess Sophie, has increasingly stepped into the spotlight as a key member of the Royal Family. Long regarded as one of Queen Elizabeth's favorites, the Duchess of Edinburgh is now drawing comparisons to Prince William and Princess Kate as she carries out a lengthy tour of South and Central America this week and next.

Duchess Sophie arrived in Peru on Monday, November 10 following a busy weekend of Remembrance events in London with the rest of the Royal Family. She'll continue on to Panama, Guatemala and Belize to highlight causes close to her heart such as preventable blindness and sexual violence in conflict.

Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, body language expert Darren Stanton has analyzed Sophie's visit to South America so far, revealing how her "warm" demeanor is similar to that of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

"It’s actually fascinating to see how Sophie’s role has evolved in recent years," Stanton says. "For much of her time in the royal family, she’s never really been front and center—yes, she’s always been a senior royal by virtue of her marriage to Prince Edward, but it’s only in the last few years that her schedule of engagements has noticeably increased."

While meeting Indigenous Women's Rights Defenders and women leaders of the Awajun, Shipibo-Konibo and Kukama Kukamiria people, the duchess laughed and embraced the women around her—gestures Stanton calls "warm, open and deeply engaged."

"What’s striking now is how Sophie approaches these public appearances," he says. "Her body language mirrors much of what we see from William and Kate."

Stanton continues, "Her smile is a genuine one: you can see it in the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, the soft laugh lines that show her whole face is involved. That authenticity is something the public responds to, and it’s clearly something the palace values as the Royal Family looks to the future."

Stanton says that while observing her in Peru, it's clear she "connects naturally and sincerely with the people she meets." He adds, "There’s no hint of disinterest, no power gestures, no effort to assert rank. Instead, like William and Kate, Sophie comes across as grounded, empathetic, and confident."

Next up on her trip, the duchess will visit Panama to meet senior members of the government, recognizing its collaboration with the U.K. on global challenges, including conflict-related sexual violence. In Guatemala, Sophie will carry out engagements related to the same theme, learning about support for survivors of human trafficking and sexual violence and visiting a charity supporting vulnerable young people.

The Duchess of Edinburgh will also observe conservation efforts led by Indigenous groups in the remote and biodiverse regions of the Maya Biosphere Reserve. And in Belize, she'll take part in the country's national holiday of Garifuna Settlement Day, learn about efforts to protect natural environments and visit the British Army Training Support Unit Belize.

"It’s no coincidence that she’s being seen at more high-profile engagements lately," Stanton concludes. "As the royal landscape shifts and William and Kate prepare to take on greater responsibility, Sophie seems to embody the same modern, approachable style they represent."

On Saturday, November 8, Princess Kate attended the Royal British Legion's annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. As Prince William was in Brazil for the Earthshot Prize Awards 2025, the couple's eldest son, Prince George, accompanied his mother to the event. On Sunday morning, the Princess of Wales stepped out for Remembrance Sunday at The Cenotaph in London, where she was photographed sharing a secret moment with Queen Camilla.

While King Charles and Prince William took part in the service and laid wreaths in honor of fallen troops, Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton watched from a balcony nearby. The pair appeared to be in great spirits, and were captured smiling and joking with one another during the somber event. Queen Camilla even hid her mouth behind an order of service booklet to prevent onlookers from knowing what was said.

After wearing a sold-out Alessandra Rich dress to the Festival of Remembrance, Princess Kate opted for a coat dress from one of her favored designers for Remembrance Sunday. If the sleek black coat dress looks familiar, that's because the Princess of Wales has previously worn the exact same design—Catherine Walker's Evie Coat Dress—on numerous occasions. Princess Diana also regularly wore Catherine Walker's clothing—a tradition Kate appears to have continued.

Kate accessorized her outfit with a new $1,700 Black Felt Percher from Lock & Co. Hatters, Princess Diana's beloved Collingwood Pearl Earrings, and a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Pilot's Wing Gold FAA Sweetheart Brooch, per @katemiddletonstyled. A subtle navy lace scarf completed the Princess of Wales's chic outfit.