The Royals' love affair with the colour green keeps on going. Just after Catherine, Princess of Wales, rewore a dark green shirt dress to visit The Royal Marsden Hospital, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has delivered her spin on the shade for the first day of her trip to Zambia.
Monday was the kick-off of the Duchess's six-day visit to Zambia, starting with a reception hosted by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and Orbis International. Sophie is set for a busy week ahead, with plans for a meeting with the Zambian president and a visit to Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. A significant portion of the trip will be dedicated to the Duchess's charitable work, specifically around the issue of blindness – she will visit a health clinic that's piloting a way to eliminate trachoma, an eye infection that is the world's leading infectious cause of sight loss.
For day one, the Royal opted for a stunning green dress, her favourite Penelope Chivers espadrille wedges, and statement gold jewellery. We suspect the choice of dress is not just down to the Royal family's collective love of this shade, but a nod to the Zambian flag, which is primarily a bright green.
The exact dress Sophie is wearing is the Brooke design from a collaboration between ARossGirl (a label founded by red carpet stylist Amanda Ross) and London-based atelier Soler. Interestingly, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has previously worn a dress from the exact same collaborative collection. Just like Sophie's, Kate's was a vibrant green shade with a contrasting tie belt at the waist.
Catherine reached for that particular dress ahead of an official tour of Pakistan, for a meeting with who was then the Aga Khan in London.
That was back in 2019, so evidently a green dress is a staple well worth buying. If the Royals are bringing out their green pieces from seven years ago, we can feel fairly confident that any green dress we buy now will work just as brilliantly next year, and the year after that, and the year after that...
For a dress in a similar pleasing green shade to the one Sophie wore this week, we love the Arianna cotton midi dress from Finery. It has a super flattering nipped in waist and puffed sleeves, and the embroidered collar adds interest. Plus, it's only £59.
Arianna Light Green Embroidered Cotton Midi Dress
If you prefer a more Kate-esque shade of green, though, there are plenty of great options on the high street. Try this new M&S number, with long sleeves, a high neckline, and an asymmetric hem.
Autograph Satin Crepe Asymmetric Midi Waisted Dress
Or this fir green shirt dress from Hobbs feels very Princess of Wales. It's available in petite sizes, too.
Whichever you choose, a green dress will always be a winner. Trust the Royals.
