The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh travelled in style through the city of Lisbon yesterday as they boarded a yellow tram for the first day of their Portuguese visit. Prince Edward and Sophie undertook several engagements across the capital for the start of their three-day trip to mark the 640th anniversary of the historic Treaty of Windsor, which cemented the Anglo-Portuguese partnership.
Sophie's Speech and Engagements
To begin their second day of engagements, Sophie delivered a powerful speech to students taking part in Model NATO in Lisbon, dressed in a stylish white suit jacket and green and white dress. The British Embassy Lisbon initiative seeks to replicate a high-level meeting of NATO's North Atlantic Treaty for students from Birmingham University alongside six Portuguese universities.
On Monday, the royal couple formally opened an exhibition dedicated to the Treaty of Windsor at the Portuguese National Archive, which will see copies of the original document displayed together for the very first time in their 630-year history. 'You look after your documents better than we do,' quipped Edward, while Sophie remarked to staff that the copies of the treaty contained incredibly 'small' handwriting.
Royal Style and Tram Ride
For the marked occasion, Sophie, 61, stepped out in a striking silk summer dress from Suzannah London, known as the 'Veronique', featuring a soft green clover print. From there, Edward, 62, and Sophie travelled around Lisbon in style - boarding a historic yellow tram to travel through the city centre following a walk through Estrela Garden with the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas. Showcasing his impressive Portuguese skills, Edward left onlookers amazed when he disembarked the tram and remarked 'obrigado', which translates to 'thank you'.
For their final engagement of the day, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh hosted a lavish garden party at the UK Ambassador's Residence where they met with charity leaders and representatives with connections to both the UK and Portugal. Yet the real star of the show was Sophie's impeccable backless red dress - the 'Strawberry Date Dress' by Materlier Design, which she paired with striking earrings from Guila Barela and Penelope Chilvers platform sandals in burgundy.
Fan Praise and Family News
An influx of royal fans have praised the Duchess of Edinburgh's impeccable backless red dress. One royal fan wrote: 'I don't call her Sunshine Sophie without a reason,' while others described the Duchess as 'exquisite' and 'regal.' Another added: 'Seriously giving me Downtown Abbey vibes. Her hair is spot on perfection. Great look.'
Edward and Sophie's visit to Portugal marks the first royal visit to the country since 2011 and will see the royal couple carry out engagements in both Lisbon and Porto. Throughout the visit, the pair will focus upon celebrating and strengthening ties between the two nations, while also celebrating shared history and values spanning sport inclusion and Women, Peace and Security.
It comes just weeks after it was revealed that the couple's daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, had accepted a 'paid job' at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, with officials praising the 'hard-working' royal as a 'real asset' to the team. Lady Louise, 22, who is studying English at the University of St Andrew's, seemed unfazed by the cold rain in Berkshire as she arrived for the prestigious equestrian event.
Sophie beamed with pride as she watched her daughter help out with preparations, after the director of the Royal Windsor Horse Show praised Lady Louise as a 'great worker' who doesn't have any 'airs or graces.' The Duchess was typically elegant in a beige tweed jacket, dark brown trousers, and an off-white scarf as she bundled up on the cold May afternoon.
According to Nick Brooks-Ward, the director of the event, the down-to-earth royal is operating a 'first concierge service.' He told Vanity Fair: 'Lady Louise is one of the chief organizers, essentially operating a first concierge service. She's a great worker and a real asset to the team with no airs or graces. It's a proper paid job and there's no special treatment because of who she is.'
The royal was taught to carriage drive as a young girl by her grandfather, the late Prince Philip, and the pair are said to have bonded over a shared love of the sport. In a heartfelt tribute to her grandfather, Lady Louise drove his carriage during an emotional procession at the finale of the 'Gallop Through History' during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in May 2022.
Meanwhile, her mother Sophie has devoted much of her latter royal work to raising awareness of the issue of sexual violence. In February, she embarked on a two-day Kenyan tour to highlight the role of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. In April 2024, Sophie bravely denounced Putin's forces for using rape as weapon of war as she became the first British royal to visit Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
