Duchess Sophie arrives in Zambia: Her green look and the personal story behind her visit

Inside Duchess Sophie’s Zambia visit, from her lime-green Soler dress and royal honey gifts to the eye-health cause with a personal family connection.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 10:42 PM EDTSEP 15, 2026, 10:42 PM EDT

Duchess Sophie has begun her six-day visit to Zambia with a splash of color and a cause that carries a personal connection. Arriving in Lusaka in a vivid lime-green dress, the Duchess of Edinburgh put eye health at the center of her first engagements. The issue has particular meaning for her family because of daughter Lady Louise Windsor's childhood experience with esotropia.

Duchess Sophie arrives in Zambia for a six-day official visit that will take her from Lusaka to Livingstone.

The royal visit will take Sophie from Lusaka to the Lower Zambezi and Livingstone, with stops focused on eye care, women's enterprise, and wildlife conservation. She is undertaking the trip at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with Victoria Falls among the final destinations on her itinerary.

Duchess Sophie Wears a Lime-Green Dress in Zambia

For an appearance in Lusaka, Sophie chose a vibrant lime-green Soler midi dress with a deep purple sash at the waist. The green echoed the dominant shade in Zambia's national flag, while the contrasting sash gave the look a distinctive finish.

The Duchess of Edinburgh steps out in Lusaka wearing a vibrant lime-green Soler midi dress with a contrasting purple sash.

The dress featured a soft V-neckline, lightly puffed sleeves and a flowing skirt. Sophie paired it with her £149 Penelope Chilvers espadrilles, a familiar choice from her wardrobe that worked easily with the warm-weather look.

Sophie pairs her colorful Soler dress with £149 Penelope Chilvers espadrilles, a familiar favorite from her royal wardrobe.

Duchess Sophie's Eye-Health Work Has a Family Connection

Sophie kept her accessories understated, adding delicate gold jewelry to the colorful outfit. But the more personal element of the day came from the cause she was there to support.

As Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), the Duchess attended an Orbis Eye Health reception in Lusaka.

Duchess Sophie attends an Orbis Eye Health reception in Lusaka as part of her work supporting the prevention of avoidable blindness.

Her connection to the issue also reaches into her family. Lady Louise Windsor was born with esotropia, a condition in which the eyes do not align properly, and underwent two corrective surgeries during childhood.

Speaking at the reception, Sophie addressed the impact that poor sight can have on a child's education and future opportunities. Her family's own experience gives an added personal dimension to her work supporting better access to eye care.

Duchess Sophie Brings Royal Honey for Zambia Visit

The Duchess also met Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and First Lady Mutinta Hichilema at Community House in Lusaka. She arrived with gifts that carried connections to Britain and Zambia.

The Duchess brings a taste of royal life to Zambia with honey produced from beehives at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Bagshot Park.

Among them were jars of royal honey produced by beehives at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Sophie's home at Bagshot Park.

Sophie will spend six days in Zambia, where her royal engagements will spotlight issues ranging from gender equality and education to climate change.

For the First Lady, Sophie brought a bespoke scarf made by students from The King's Foundation. The design paired Zambian chitenge fabric with Scottish cashmere, bringing materials associated with both countries into one piece.

The Duchess spent time with artists and survivors of gender-based violence who use creative work to support healing and empowerment.

Inside Duchess Sophie's Six-Day Zambia Royal Tour

Beyond her engagements in Lusaka, Sophie's itinerary includes visits to eye clinics and ethical gemstone businesses, as well as a workshop with young artists at Barefeet Theatre.

The Duchess joined a hands-on workshop at Jewel of Africa, a Lusaka jewelry business known for using ethically sourced gemstones from Zambia.

The tour will also take the Duchess to Livingstone and Mosi-oa-Tunya, internationally known as Victoria Falls.

There, Sophie is due to lay a commemorative posy at a World War I memorial before bringing her six-day visit to Zambia to a close.