Duchess Sophie in a white floral dress

Duchess Sophie, 61, is a walking piece of art in silk holiday dress

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have kicked off their three-day trip to Portugal, and Sophie looked stunning in a Suzannah London silk tea dress

he Duchess of Edinburgh has kicked off her three-day trip to Portugal alongside her husband, Prince Edward. During her fleeting visit, we can expect to see Sophie showcasing some exquisite fashion, and she has started as she means to go on.

To celebrate the opening of the Treaty of Windsor Exhibition at the Portuguese National Archive, Lisbon, where the original English and Portuguese copies sit side by side for the first time since 1386, the 61-year-old combated the heat in a silky summer dress from Suzannah London.

Known as the ‘Veronique’, the white tea dress featured an empire waist, a bias-cut skirt that fell to the floor and a soft green clover print developed in collaboration with French artist and photographer, Rachel Levy.

“Suzannah worked with Rachel to create a unique design using Rachel’s Clover artwork; which was developed into an all-over textile print and expertly printed onto silk by a family-run Italian cloth mill that we have worked with for many years,” the brand explained of the 1930s-style dress.

She teamed the dress, which normally retails for £1,590 but is currently 70 per cent off, with gold floral earrings and a white bag for the ultimate cool-girl holiday outfit.

Duchess Edinburgh in a white floral dress and sunglasses walking down steps with Prince Edward© PA Images via Getty Images
The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a silk Suzannah London tea dress in Portugal

PR background

Before marrying into the royal family, Sophie was a successful PR executive who worked at Capital Radio before setting up her own successful PR business by 31.

It was through her career that she first crossed paths with Prince Edward at the prince’s Real Tennis Challenge event, which marked the start of their royal love story. Quickly catapulted into the spotlight, the latest royal It-girl became known for her timeless fashion, from tailored mini skirts to head-turning trouser suits.

Prince Edward and sophie in black tie© Getty
Sophie Rhys-Jones was a glamorous PR executive before marrying into the royal family

After being used to being behind the camera, Sophie admitted she initially struggled with the interest in her fashion choices.

Style evolution

While her style has continued to evolve since her royal wedding, personal stylist Susie Hasler of Styled by Susie previously told HELLO! that she continues to look as effortless and elegant today, no matter the occasion.

“We always see her wearing shades that perfectly suit her skin tone, whether that’s acid-bright corals, or ice-cream hues – lots of soft yellows, soft blues, powder blues,” said Susie.

Sophie teamed her Lexy London skirt with a pair of cowboy boots, designed by Penelope Chilvers© PA Images via Getty Images
The Duchess teamed her Lexy London skirt with a pair of cowboy boots for a recent outing in Devon

Praising her sartorial strengths, the stylist added:  “The rest of her outfit will be a minimal-fuss style. We often see Sophie in floral dresses – both midi and maxi – and these types of prints can be difficult to wear as, get them wrong, and they can appear dated or overly traditional.

“However, the Duchess wears them in a really contemporary way, the cut is usually very modern.” Sophie’s latest ivory white summer dress in Portugal is the perfect example of this.

“Her style strikes the perfect balance between timeless elegance and modernity. Her ability to incorporate trends in an authentic and understated way makes her a royal style icon who embodies grace and confidence in every appearance,” she concluded.

CRE: https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/904827/duchess-sophie-walking-piece-of-art-silk-holiday-dress/