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In London this evening, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Helen Taylor, the Duke of Kent’s only daughter, made a joint appearance at the Reasons For Hope Gala. The event was thrown to celebrate Dr. Jane Goodall’s legacy—the famed conservationist passed away this past October at age 91—and was a fundraiser to support of the Jane Goodall Institute UK.
Both Sophie and Helen looked ready for spring for the engagement held at the Peninsula London. The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a Zimmerman sheath dress (still in stock), and Lady Helen opted for a white blouse, green skirt, and a printed scarf.
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The royal women pose for a photograph.
While the Duchess of Edinburgh is a senior working royal, Lady Helen Taylor is 48th in the line of succession to the British throne. She and husband Timothy Taylor have four children, who all follow her in the line of succession: Columbus (born 1994), Cassius (born 1996), Eloise (born 2003), and Estella (born 2004).
She last made an appearance with the royal family in December; she was pictured arriving for the annual Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, and attending Kate Middleton’s annual Christmas carol at Westminster Abbey.
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Lady Helen Taylor arriving at Buckingham Palace for Christmas lunch.
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Lady Helen Taylor, Lady Estella Taylor and Lady Marina Charlotte Windsor depart after attending the ’Together At Christmas’ Carol Service.
Tonight was surprisingly not the first joint outing for the Duchess of Edinburgh, 61, and Lady Helen, also 61; in fact, in November 2025, the women attended Coral Gold Cup Day at Newbury Racecourse together.
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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Helen Taylor in November.
Last week, Sophie missed the Nigerian State Banquet. While no reason was given for her absence (her husband, Prince Edward, was there), she did visit New York City the week prior.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.