Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attended her first Buckingham Palace Garden Party of 2026 on Wednesday afternoon and made a striking impression with her elegant look for the occasion.
The Duchess chose her beloved ‘Yahvi’ dress by Beulah London, a design known for its flattering silhouette.
The outfit featured a classic crew neckline, flowing bell sleeves, and a fitted waist that flowed into a full A-line skirt with a light, airy finish. Small covered buttons running down one side added an extra touch of detail, while the vibrant coral shade beautifully complemented Sophie’s sandy blonde hair.
When it came to accessories, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh once again proved her eye for elegant styling.
The Duchess, 61, completed her look with a bespoke version of Jane Taylor’s ‘Pomona’ hat, featuring a bold coral detail perfectly coordinated with her dress. She paired it with glossy patent court shoes by Gianvito Rossi and carried the ‘Moneypenny’ raffia clutch from Sophie Habsburg, one of her favorite handbag labels.
Taking her daytime ensemble up another level, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh accessorised with Giulia Barela’s ‘Rocking’ earrings, crafted from 24-carat gold-plated bronze, alongside sparkling pieces from Chopard’s ‘Happy Diamonds’ collection.
Sophie is known to own several items from the collection—including a rose-gold and diamond pendant necklace, matching bangle, and earrings—which together are estimated to be worth around £15,000.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh’s vibrant colour choice for the Garden Party carried a deeper meaning, according to fashion stylist and colour expert Sian Clarke of Styled by Sian.
“It not only marks the beginning of the summer celebration season, but also reflects a wider shift in how we feel about our relationship with fashion and self-expression when the season changes,” she explained.
“Coral is often associated with empathy, warmth, and listening, while also encouraging confidence and honesty. It represents not being afraid to show up, speak your truth, and embrace visibility with grace.”
She continued: “Yet because coral is softened with undertones of white and pink, it never feels overpowering. Instead, it brings softness and approachability to a bold statement colour.”
Sian Clarke also noted that coral is often linked to optimism, energy, and a joyful spirit—all qualities she believes Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh reflected perfectly during the season’s first Garden Party.
“I also think Queen Elizabeth II would have absolutely loved seeing Sophie in this beautiful coral look. The late Queen always understood the power of colour in royal dressing, and this felt like a wonderfully elegant continuation of that tradition,” she concluded.
Later that day, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attended a second engagement—the Annual Orbis Visionaries reception in London.
For the evening event, Sophie embraced a distinctly 1960s-inspired style in Matelier’s ‘Cardamom’ dress, according to royal fashion account Royal Fashion Police on Instagram. She completed the look by rewearing the same jewellery and clutch bag she had carried earlier at the Garden Party.
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