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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, made her first appearance at Royal Ascot this year on day two of the races. The Duchess stepped out in a black and white ensemble, anchored by a black shirt dress from Suzannah London—a surprising hue, given that attendees often favor bright colors, pastels, or florals.
Meeting Royal Ascot’s strict headwear dress code, Sophie wore a structured black and white hat with a floral motif while carrying a Sophie Hapsburg clutch and wearing Jimmy Choo heels.
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The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the Ascot Racecourse.
The Duchess was joined by her husband, Prince Edward, and her 94-year-old father, Christopher Rhys-Jones, who has attended the prestigious horse-racing event with the family in previous years. Royal Ascot regularly draws not just working members of the royal family but also their relatives and in-laws.
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Prince Edward with his father-in-law, Christopher Rhys-Jones, at Ascot in 2025.
Sophie and Prince Edward did not take part in the Royal Procession but joined a notable group in the Royal Box that included King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, Zara Tindall, Lady Gabriella Windsor, and Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of the late Princess Margaret. Kate Middleton’s mother and sister-in-law, Carole Middleton and Alizée Thevenet, were also present.
Her choice of Suzannah London was no surprise. Sophie has long been one of the British label’s most loyal clients, turning to the brand for everything from state dinners and garden parties to formal royal engagements, as well as Royal Ascot in previous years. Earlier this week, Sophie wore a bias-cut Italian silk floral dress by the same designer at the Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle.
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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.