Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

[Oxynia]

I rarely covet Meghan's wardrobe choices but I love that dress.

[ahah]

Maybe they agreed to share clothes while they were riding in the same car for the funeral.

[featherhat]

Sophie visited the Panzi hospital for sexual violence survivors yesterday, which as you would expect seems like an incredible project.

link

And today she visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which Charles and Camilla also visited earlier this year. She's packing a into this short visit and is also holding meetings with government officials about the issues.

link

She appears to have made a choice to wear bright florals on this trip.

I'm glad an important trip is getting some coverage even if it's a couple of articles here and there.

[boxofrocks]

Wore the Aquamarine Necklace tiara with necklace and earrings previously worn by QEII to state dinner with Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa

The dark teal dress looks great on her!

[luckylexie]

I hate to use the term, but that’s a sweet nod to QEII.

How do you think the process for choosing jewelry for big events goes? Camilla gets first pick, then Catherine, and so on? Catherine consistently wears the same 2-3 tiaras, but I guess there’s always the accompanying bits of jewelry to choose too. Is Angela Kelly still there to advise the royal ladies with these choices?

I wonder if Camilla will wear the state diadem for the opening of Parliament? Or is that only for a queen regnant? I should google pics of the Queen Mum…

ETA: Yeah, Camilla will wear the state diadem! My train of thought there was whether Camilla will wear any of the tiaras that are so closely associated with QEII. For example, If Catherine hadn’t been loaned the Cambridge Lovers Knot tiara, I doubt Camilla would choose to wear it because it was so closely associated with Diana. I wonder if these considerations are still in place.

[Auroranorth]

I really like that color on her.

[Ladybug]

Today in Washington, D.C., Sophie was honored with the Hilary Rodham Clinton Award for her work campaigning against sexual violence in conflict zones. Her speech focused on the women she works with: "My work with women activists and peacebuilders is something in which I hold huge pride. I listen to their voices, and I hear courage and commitment in every word. They work tirelessly without seeking recognition or accolade, moving heaven and earth to protect and support those in need." Here's video of her speech.

[Ladybug]

Sophie had another overseas trip related to advocacy for victims of sexual violence during conflict. It was barely covered by the UK press.

You’d be remiss if you didn’t know that the Countess of Wessex was in the Netherlands last week for a visit focusing on women’s rights and conflict-based sexual violence because outside of the dedicated royal watchers on social media, it was barely covered by the press.

Once again, Sophie’s vital work was ignored when it should have been given front-page coverage. After all, her voice in this community is respected and researched; her work hard-hitting; her impact measurable.

Sophie visited the International Criminal Court and carried out engagements alongside Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau—another royal whose work in this field is outspoken but at least covered—and crickets back home.

The Countess’s visit to the ICC included a discussion on the Trust Fund for Victims and how the court works to support and restore justice to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and how the court protects people and raises awareness of these issues.

Sophie was accompanied on her Dutch visit by the Ambassador to the Netherlands, lending further credence to her visit, as she shares in the UK government’s belief that women and girls across the globe are protected, according to a tweet from the official UK in the Netherlands Twitter account.

After her visit to the ICC, the Countess attended a reception with Princess Mabel, Kitty van der Heijden, and the Mukwege Foundation to discuss survivor voices and the importance of ending conflict-related sexual violence.

According to the Royal Family’s website, Sophie “reflected on her visits to conflict environments, and the stories of the survivors she has met” and later had dinner with female entrepreneurs. The UK in the Netherlands account said that Sophie and the entrepreneurs discussed the “importance of gender equality, leading by example, and how women should always support other women.”

On the second day of her visit to the Netherlands, the Countess of Wessex visited the International Commission on Missing Persons to learn about its DNA laboratory and how it helps find people displaced by conflict, crime or disaster.

More about her trip on the Royal Family website.

[Deleted]

She be Duchess of Edinburgh now.

[tiggertoo]

Love her!