Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Wears Floral Suzannah London Dress to Garter Day 2026

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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle on Monday, joining the Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family for one of the most prestigious traditions on the royal calendar. The Duchess arrived at St. George’s Chapel dressed in a bias-cut, Italian silk dress with a floral print by one of her favorite designers, Suzannah London.

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The Duchess wearing Jimmy Choo’s “Rosalia 65” pumps while carrying a Valextra handbag.

Sophie’s husband, Prince Edward, participated in the procession as a Knight of the Garter. As a member of the Order, he wore the distinctive Garter robes, a mantle of deep blue velvet lined with white taffeta, a hood of crimson velvet, a surcoat, and the iconic black velvet hat topped with white ostrich feathers. He also wore the Lesser George, a jeweled pendant depicting St. George slaying a dragon, suspended from the Garter blue ribbon.

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Sophie also wore a structured Jane Taylor hat.

Prince Edward was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 2006 by Queen Elizabeth, joining one of the most exclusive fellowships of chivalry in the world. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain, founded by King Edward III in 1348. According to legend, the order takes its name from an incident at a court ball when a lady’s garter slipped to the floor. Edward III reportedly picked it up and tied it to his own leg, rebuking those who sniggered with the words that would become the order’s motto: “Honi soit qui mal y pense,” written in Anglo-Norman French, which in today’s English means, “Shame on him who thinks evil of it.”

The order is limited to the sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and 24 knight companions, along with certain royal and supernumerary members. Membership is entirely at the personal gift of the monarch and is considered one of the highest honors in Britain. Current members include Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, King Felipe of Spain, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, and playwright Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.